The US Olympic Committee (USOC) told the country's sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health over the Zika virus should consider not going to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August, Daily Mail newspaper reported.
The message was delivered in a conference call involving USOC officials and leaders of US sport federations in late January, according to two people who participated in the call.
Federations were told that no one should go to Brazil "if they don't feel comfortable going. Bottom line," said Donald Anthony, president and board chairman of USA Fencing.