The Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s decision to cancel the race comes as the virus rapidly spreads across the wider Middle East, with over 500 confirmed cases. Many link back to Iran, which has the highest death toll outside of China, the epicenter of the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness. The virus has killed 34 people amid 388 confirmed cases in Iran, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said today. Meanwhile, the virus continued its spread across top leaders in Iran, afflicting Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar. It said it would cancel the two remaining legs of the competition in Abu Dhabi.

Source: The Standard February 28, 2020 11:15 UTC