Liberia could withdraw from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Ebola-stricken Liberia could send no athletes to this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro due to a lack of money and fears over the Zika virus in Brazil, the country's Finance Ministry has revealed.

In a letter addressed to the Deputy Sports Minister Henry B. Yonton, the Ministry opted not to approve a request for $151,882 (£106,231/€133,384) of support to fund Liberian athletes attending the Games.

"Given the current fiscal position of the Government...we are [unable] to grant this request at this time," claims the letter, which was obtained by Reuters.

"It is important to note that Brazil is currently battling the Zika epidemic.

"Given our recent experience with Ebola, it will be public health risk to send [athletes] to that part of the world."

Liberia, the west African nation whose best known sportsman is former world footballer of the year George Weah, has never won an Olympic medal but has competed at 12 of the last 15 summer editions, including every one since Barcelona 1992.

A four-strong team competed at London 2012, consisting of athletes Jangy Addy, Flagbearer Phobay Kutu-Akoi and Raasin McIntosh and judoka Liva Saryee.

It had been hoped more would appear this time around.

Liberia has been decimated by Ebola virus but sport has been seen as a way to boost morale ©Getty Images
Liberia has been decimated by Ebola virus but sport has been seen as a way to boost morale ©Getty Images

The country has been crippled in the last two yars by being at the centre of the world's worst Ebola epidemic.

More than 11,300 people have died across Liberia, as well as in neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

A new case was confirmed in Liberia yesterday, despite the country having been officially declared free of the deadly virus three months ago.

The national economy has also been devastated as a result of the crisis.

It is thus understandable that officials would be keen to avoid exposure to the mosquito-borne Zika virus - which has been linked to microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with small heads.

This is despite many experts and officials insisting the risks will be low in the Brazilian winter so long as adequate precautions are taken.

If the country does ultimately decide not to go, they will become the first to not attend due to Zika.

Liberia also withdrew from the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympics at the height of the Ebola outbreak but did participate at last year's All-African Games in Brazzaville.

"It would be disappointing if we do not attend the Olympics," Liberian National Olympic Committee President Philipbert Brown, who claims to have not seen the letter, told Reuters.

"Our people have been training for four years and you come to say that you would not sponsor them?"