USA Weightlifting received 500 masks from the Chinese Weightlifting Association and is donating them to University of Colorado Health ©Getty Images

USA Weightlifting received 500 masks from the Chinese Weightlifting Association and is donating them to University of Colorado Health (UCHealth) to help battle the coronavirus pandemic.

The Chinese Weightlifting Association wrote to USA Weightlifting chief executive Phil Andrews to give 500 masks to the governing body.  

Andrews revealed on Twitter that the masks would be donated to UCHealth, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Colorado. 

Chinese company Zhangkong Barbell has also donated 5,000 masks to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which will be distributed to National Federations. 

IWF has asked National Federations to request the number of masks they need. 

Like all sports, weightlifting has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

All five continental Championships had been due to take place in April, but have now been postponed. 

Nearly 750,000 people have been infected by coronavirus worldwide, with more than 35,000 deaths. 

World Taekwondo is another sporting organisation to donate masks to help battle the pandemic.