The rapid spread of coronavirus is causing cancellations and delays to sporting events around the world.
Follow live updates of the developing sports stories from around the world.
3.55pm: Aussie cricketer tested for coronavirus, pulled from Black Caps match
Australian pace bowler Kane Richardson will not feature in today's ODI match against New Zealand at the SCG after he was tested for the coronavirus.
The match will be played behind closed doors after Cricket Australia confirmed no spectators will be allowed to watch the three-match series.
Richardson reported a mild sore throat on Thursday, promoting Cricket Australia to take action and remove him from the group.
JUST IN: Aussie quick Kane Richardson will miss today's #AUSvNZ ODI with results
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 13, 2020
of COVID-19 test still pending.
DETAILS: https://t.co/jNsxVLgRGc pic.twitter.com/SZRYEnQcJd
"Our medical staff are treating this a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days," a statement read.
"Once we receive the results of the tests and Kane recovers in the next few days we expect he will rejoin the team." - news.com.au
3.20pm: Rugby bosses in emergency meeting
International rugby leaders will this evening discuss the impact of coronavirus on upcoming Super Rugby matches in New Zealand.
While the Ministry of Health has not proposed altering arrangements for public events today, various sporting and cultural events have been cancelled or postponed including Auckland's Pasifika Festival and surf contest Piha Pro.
Sanzaar said the prohibition on crowds at major sports events in Buenos Aires meant tomorrow's match between the Jaguares and the Highlanders will be in a closed stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game.
NZ Rugby chair Brent Impey told BusinessDesk that no domestic games are cancelled at this stage, but said the four heads of the SANZAAR countries are meeting this evening "to secure further updates."
Impey noted that tomorrow's match at Auckland's Eden Park between the Blues and the Lions is still scheduled, even though Pasifika is cancelled. The game has shifted to an earlier time of 4.25pm in the afternoon, reportedly to accommodate the Crusaders-Sunwolves game being relocated from Tokyo because of covid-19.
"In terms of the broadcasting rights, the situation is that where there is a force majeure type situation, it's out of your control, and that's just the way it is," Impey said.
Broadcasting rights made up about 40 percent of NZ Rugby's revenue, according to its most recent financial statements for calendar 2018.
Under SANZAAR rules, a game can be postponed or cancelled with the consent of all four partners. This was last invoked about a year ago after the Christchurch mosque shootings, Impey said.
While those one-off cancellations were covered by broadcasting rights contracts, "the question which is more appropriate, which we can't answer at the minute, is what if this is a for a long, sustained period? And that question is yet to be addressed."
"We are assessing downside scenarios, there could be financial impacts clearly," Impey said.
Eden Park, which next week hosts a doubleheader of league and union, said it can host tomorrow's Blues game and has a range of precautionary measures in place.
"This period continues to be an uncertain time for the event industry however the health of our staff, patrons and visiting athletes remains our priority," it said in a statement on its website.
New Zealand has five confirmed cases of covid-19, all in Auckland. - BusinessDesk
3pm: Players Championship cancelled
The PGA have announced that The Players Championship will be cancelled after one completed round.
"It is with regret that we are announcing the cancellation of The Players Championship. We have also decided to cancel all PGA tour events – across all of our Tours – in the coming weeks, through the Valero Texas Open," the statement read.
"We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful and transparent with our decision process. We did everything possible to create a safe environment for our players in order to continue the event throughout the weekend, and we were endeavoring to give our fans a much-needed respite from the current climate. But at this point – and as the situation continues to rapidly change – the right thing to do for our players and our fans is to pause."
It is with regret that we are announcing the cancellation of THE PLAYERS Championship and all events through the Valero Texas Open. https://t.co/r01TeB83yK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 13, 2020
2pm: Ronaldo in quarantine
Cristiano Ronaldo is in quarantine in his Madeira home after Juventus teammate Daniele Rugani tested positive for Covid-19.
Ronaldo flew back to Portugal to visit his mother, who recently suffered a stroke, before the news broke, prompting him to stay in his homeland rather than fly back to northern Italy where coronavirus is at its most rampant.
Ronaldo and Rugani shared a dressing room on Sunday when Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-0 behind closed doors.
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A post shared by Miralem Pjanić (@miralem_pjanic) on
1.10pm: Supercars postpones Albert Park event
Supercars will look to reschedule another championship event later in the year, following the cancellation of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
The Albert Park event was set to feature the second round of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship season, for which practice and two qualifying sessions took place on Thursday.
Official: Albert Park races will not take place.
— Supercars (@supercars) March 12, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/3mLY5R5ihi #VASC pic.twitter.com/36dhuZbCgC
1pm: NRL to continue as planned for now
The NRL issued a set of guidelines to all 16 clubs on Thursday outlining how to restrict access to dressing rooms and interaction with fans.
A subcommittee of senior club figures and CEOs is being formed to formalise a detailed plan on how the league will respond if matches have to be played in empty stadiums or cancelled.
NRL this morning informed stadiums that games are still to be played this round. That could change quickly. NRL have scheduled major meeting for Monday to discuss shutdown. Appears inevitable season will be postponed. Players have made it clear they won’t play in empty venues.
— Chris Garry (@ChrisGarry7) March 12, 2020
12.40pm: Piha Pro event postponed
New Zealand has seen its first postponement of a major sporting event due to the coronavirus outbreak, with next week's Piha Pro surfing event being affected.
READ MORE: WSL announce Piha Pro event postponed due to coronavirus fears
12.10pm: Australian F1 GP cancelled
Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix has been postponed after McLaren withdrew from the event when a team member tested positive for coronavirus.
Formula 1 and the FIA, with the full support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), have taken the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix is cancelled pic.twitter.com/rHbc7hlNvH
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2020
11.55am: Super Rugby games, apart from Jaguares v Highlanders, to go ahead as planned
Sanzaar, the governing body that oversees Super Rugby, today confirmed that the Highlanders' clash against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires will be played behind closed doors, while other matches will continue as planned.
"SANZAAR has today been informed by the Argentina Rugby Union that the mayor of the Government of Buenos Aires City in Argentina has issued a directive with regard to the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus)," the statement read.
"The government has directed that while major sports events may take place in the city as scheduled for the next 30 days there is to be no spectator presence. This has a direct immediate effect on the Round 7 match between the Jaguares and Highlanders at Jose Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires this Saturday (14 March)."
Super Rugby CEO Andy Marinos added: "Apart from the match in Buenos Aires on Saturday, all other matches will continue as normal for Round 7 (March 13-15)."
11.25am: Arsenal boss tests positive
UK media reports suggest Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier members of the Gunners' playing squad had gone into self-isolation, forcing the immediate postponement of the club's Premier League game at Manchester City - the first game to be called off since the outbreak of the virus in the English top division.
Arteta has tested positivehttps://t.co/uKgbp07FRY
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) March 12, 2020
11am: Fans banned from Black Caps ODI series against Australia
The Black Caps' ODI series against Australia in Sydney will go ahead - but in empty stadiums.
READ MORE: Coronavirus concerns: Fans banned from Black Caps ODIs
10.35am: Premier League games to go ahead
All Premier League games will go ahead as planned, with all games being played with fans.
10.30am: LPGA Tour postpones events
The LPGA Tour has postponed the next three events on its tour, including the year's first major - the ANA Inspiration - which was scheduled for the week before the Masters.
BREAKING - LPGA Tour postpones next 3 events on it's tour including the years first major the ANA Inspiration which was scheduled for the week before the Masters. https://t.co/NyhAzCAUvn
— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) March 12, 2020
10.10am: Highlanders v Jaguares to be played behind closed doors
The Highlanders will play against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires in an empty stadium without fans, Super Rugby announced today.
Sanzaar is due to release a statement on the coronavirus concern around rugby today.
10am: Start of MLB season delayed
Major League Baseball becomes the final in-season US league to postpone games, suspending pre-season training and pushing back the start of the season by at least two weeks.
9.45am: Black Caps ODI vs Australia in doubt
Cricket Australia are set to make a decision this morning whether the one-day international between the Black Caps and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be played today.
7.30am: MLS matches suspended
Major League Soccer, which started its season in February, announce that matches will be suspended for 30 days.
"Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season — based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees," MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
7am: NHL 'on pause'
Following the NBA's decision to suspend the league, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that it was "no longer appropriate" to continue playing as it expected "some members of the NHL community would test positive at some point".
"The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night's news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus — and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.
"We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions — including by self-quarantine, where appropriate. Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy."
6.40am: NBA hit by second positive test
The Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell is the second NBA player to test positive for Covid-19 after teammate Rudy Gobert yesterday. The NBA season has been suspended indefinitely.
5am: Olympic torch lit
The Olympic torch lighting ceremony went ahead behind closed doors in Greece but uncertainty remains over whether the Games, set to start on July 24, will be cancelled or postponed.
Thursday: No fans at PGA
While the US$15 million Players Championship is set to go ahead, no spectators will be allowed from the second round of play, according to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. This will also be the case for the Texas Open.
Thursday: NBA suspends season
The NBA becomes the first major US sports league to cancel games after a Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert is confirmed to have contracted coronavirus.
"The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice," the league said in a statement Wednesday night. "The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic."
Thursday: Six-week postponement by ATP
All professional men's tennis events are cancelled for six weeks, with the ATP scrapping tournaments in in Miami, Houston, Budapest, Morocco, Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
This followed after the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, set for this week, was cancelled.
Shortly after this announcement, the WTA said it would cancel the Miami Open and the Volvo Car Open in.
The Crusaders saw off the Chiefs in a physical encounter in Christchurch.