By RNZ
Samoa's caretaker government has said the country's athletes will not be competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
However, the team has not been officially notified of any withdrawal.
A meeting is scheduled on Thursday afternoon to discuss the team's involvement in the Games.
The caretaker Cabinet decided on Wednesday to prevent Team Samoa from travelling to Japan due to COVID-19.
The caretaker Minister of Communications , Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i, said that with reports Japan has a 500 daily infection rate, the Cabinet decided prevention takes precedence.
Afamasaga said the decision was made because the possibility of infection was too high.
Samoan had already selected athletes from several sports including weightlifting, boxing, sailing and athletics, but neither rugby sevens team had qualified.
Samoan weighlifting president, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork told Newshub it's disheartening that five years of hard work has been for nothing.
He confirmed to Newshub he will be informing his athletes of the news they will not be competing at oToky on Thursday night.
RNZ / Newshub
