Athletes against suspension of Olympics qualification

Athletes compete in Women's 100m Hurdles semi-final at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar. [AFP]

The decision by the governing body of athletics to suspend Olympic qualification until December due to the coronavirus outbreak has received a cool reception from some Tokyo hopefuls.

World Athletics announced on Tuesday that qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, which will now take place in July and August next year, would restart on December 1, subject to the global situation returning to normal.

"Pretty disappointed about this decision," former Olympic steeplechase silver medallist Evan Jager posted on Twitter.

"Even if Covid-19 clears up in some countries and it's safe to compete, (it) takes away a major motivation to run fast this year.

"I understand freezing the world rankings but I feel achieving the Olympic Standard should still be on the table."

Measures to control the coronavirus have forced many athletes into self-isolation, while most major meets and marathons in the first half of the year have been postponed.

Athletes need to reach certain qualifying marks to be available for selection for the Olympics by their national federations.

The qualifying period started in 2019 and, after the suspension, will continue until the end of May for the marathon and 50 kilometre race walk, and June next year for all other events.

Jamaican middle-distance runner Aisha Praught-Leer thought the decision was premature and would affect the ability of athletes to earn sponsorship by achieving Olympic qualifying times (QT's).

"Running for QT's was the last modicum of hope many could cling to in 2020," she posted on Twitter.

Christian Taylor, twice Olympic champion, welcomed the fact that the Athletes Commission of World Athletics had been consulted over the decision but thought wider opinion should have been solicited.

"I am very disappointed that the larger athletics body was not spoken to when making this decision," the American posted on Twitter. "We need greater dialogue. We need transparency."

Meanwhile, the world athletics championships originally scheduled for next year in Eugene, Oregon, will take place on July 15-24 in 2022, avoiding a potential clash with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

World Athletics last month shifted the event to 2022 to accommodate the rearranged Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The World Athletics Council approved the new dates this week after extensive discussions with the sport's stakeholders including organisers of two other major championships due to take place in July-August 2022, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the European Championships in Munich," World Athletics said.

"The new schedule will prevent a direct conflict between any of these major events and, with careful programming, will ensure athletes can compete in three world-class competitions."