The International Federation of Athletes said Thursday that professional athletes may be particularly vulnerable to infection with the emerging coronavirus.
"Some of the players have been asked to sign documents that give them legal and financial protection if they get sick," added Brendan Schwab, chief executive of the federation.
Schwab - whose union represents 85,000 athletes around the world - added that in many games - including the NBA, NBA, ice hockey in North America, the NFL in the United States, rugby, and football in Europe - we've seen some research That athletes may be particularly vulnerable to serious symptoms of the Coronavirus.
"The virus may reach the lungs, and it can severely infect not only the lungs but other organs. Athletes need to be in good health and high physical fitness to maintain their course."
Schwab added that while players are willing to take calculated risks to resume their sporting lives, they cannot adhere to the rules of social divergence in most sports, it will not be without price.
"We are concerned that some sports organizations are trying to get rid of the economic and legal risks by putting players in a dangerous situation that may cause transmission of disease to them, and this is something we believe should not be tolerated."
Schwab said that if athletes sign their rights, then they can be deprived of "the basic legal and economic protection that must accompany injury or illness during normal work."