US warns athletes against Rio participation

The message was delivered in a conference call involving USOC officials and leaders of US sport federations in late January, according to two people who participated in the call. 

Federations were told that no one should go to Brazil “if they don’t feel comfortable going. Bottom line,” said Donald Anthony, president and board chairman of USA Fencing. 

The USOC’s briefing to sport federations is the latest sign that Olympics officials are taking the Zika threat to the games in Rio de Janeiro seriously, and acknowledging that at least some athletes and support staff could face a tough decision over whether to attend. 

The United States won most medals at the last Olympics in London in 2012, so any disruption to its presence would be important for the Rio games. 

In El Salvador, which is experiencing outbreaks of the virus, women are being advised to put off pregnancy until 2018.