Federation, Government Clash Over Ebola Wrestling Ban

(ATR)Uzbekistan health officials will decide later this week whether to allow athletes from Ebola-hit countries to compete at the 2014 Wrestling World Championships.

On Monday, Russia's Interfax News Agency reports that officials with FILA, wrestling's governing body, asked organizers to permit seven wrestlers from Nigeria and two from Sierra Leone to compete. The championships open Sept. 8 in Tashkent.

Speaking to Around the Rings, a spokesperson for FILA declined to comment on the report.

Acknowledging the "seriousness" of the situation in Africa, Gordon Templeman said the talks are "an ongoing process" and nothing has been decided yet.

An anonymous representative from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Public Health told Interfax,"wrestling's international ruling body has sent a letter to the country's Ministry of Public Health asking it to allow the athletes from the Ebola-hit countries to participate in the championships at Tashkent."

Almost two weeks ago, athletes from Ebola-stricken countries in West Africa were barred from competing in combat and water sports at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. Ebola is spread when body fluids from an infected individual come into contact with someone who is not infected with the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 1,427 deaths in West Africa have been linked to the Ebola outbreak. Overall, approximately 1,528 cases of the virus have been confirmed.

The Ebola outbreak has hit Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. As of August 22, the CDC reports Liberia is the worst affected with 624 deaths and 1,082 suspected and confirmed cases.

Written byNicole Bennett

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