As reported by Russia's official state news agency TASS, organisers have also warned that without a certificate, skaters are strictly forbidden from attending the rink at Hamar Olympic Hall.

Those who have already arrived in Hamar for the event, due to take place from Friday (February 28) to Sunday (March 1), were able to undergo an on-site examination yesterday.

"We must be sure that all skaters who enter the arena for training have checked their health," a statement from organisers reads.

"An approved medical examination is mandatory for accreditation for the tournament, so we won’t issue accreditation cards without a certificate."

A large number of other sporting events have already been cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus, given the official name of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, since the origin of the outbreak in Chinese city Wuhan.

There have now been more than 80,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,700 deaths.

A total of 37 countries and territories have confirmed patients, but the overwhelming majority have been in China itself.

Earlier this month, the ISU implemented a serious of precautions at all its events, aimed at athletes and their entourages for the prevention of contracting coronavirus.

A total of 10 measures were drawn up by the world governing body.