Members of the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Executive Board voted to scrap the event in the Mexican city as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place around the world.

Cancún itself was a stand-in host after the World Championships were moved from Xiamen in China in February.

Competition was scheduled to take place in the tourist hot-spot from November 30 to December 8, following a move from the originally planned time-frame of May 25 to 31.

It would have been the first UIPM competition to take place in person since the global health crisis caused the shutdown of sport in March.

The UIPM said various options were aired during Executive Board discussions about the future of the flagship event.

"We announce this decision with heavy hearts," said UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann.

"We will forever be grateful to our dedicated modern pentathlon community and their partners in Mexico for stepping in as hosts for the UIPM 2020 Pentathlon World Championships.

"They made a supreme effort to organise this event, even after it was postponed. 

"In the end, there were many merits in the proposal to host our flagship competition in Cancún in November and December, but unfortunately there were also many difficulties and concerns, resulting finally in the decision of the UIPM Executive Board to cancel.

"The whole world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 coronavirus and sport is no exception. 

"But we must remain strong and hopeful and focused on one outcome: that this will eventually pass. 

"Our activities will return when the time is right."

UIPM events are now not scheduled to return until next year, with the Junior World Championships in Alexandria in Egypt planned for February and March.  

More than 76,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Mexico, with only three countries recording more deaths.

There have been more than 730,000 cases, the fourth highest in the world.