Golfer Marc Leishman yesterday said he has withdrawn his candidacy for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, citing the Zika virus and health concerns for his wife, becoming the first Australian athlete to withdraw over the mosquito-borne virus.
Leishman, Australia’s No. 3 golfer, was first in the race to qualify for Rio alongside compatriot and world No. 1 Jason Day after former US Masters champion Adam Scott ruled himself out of the tournament last month.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirmed world No. 35 Leishman had become the first prospective Australian Olympian to withdraw from Rio over the Zika virus.
Photo: AFP
Leishman’s wife, Audrey, suffered toxic shock syndrome, a potentially fatal illness caused by bacterial infection, in April last year and was still recovering, the 32-year-old golfer said in a statement.
“Since then, Audrey has been prone to infection and is far removed from 100 percent recovery of her immune system,” said Leishman, a title-winner on the USPGA Tour.
“We have consulted with Audrey’s physician and due to her ongoing recovery from toxic shock and potential risks associated with the transmission of the Zika virus, it was a difficult yet easy decision not to participate,” he said.
Zika has been linked with the birth defect microcephaly that has been sweeping through South and Central America and the Caribbean and making its way north to the US.
The connection between Zika and microcephaly came to light last fall in Brazil, which has now confirmed more than 1,100 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in mothers.
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