Rutherford Freezes Sperm Over Rio's Zika Risk

Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford has frozen samples of his sperm amid fears about the Zika virus at the Rio Games.

The long jumper's girlfriend Susie Verrill, who will not be travelling to Brazil, revealed the couple's decision in an article for Standard Issue magazine.

"The Zika news has caused no end of concern if we're totally honest," she wrote.

"We're not ones to worry unnecessarily, but after more than 100 medical experts stressed the Games should be moved to prevent the disease from spreading, this was a huge factor in us choosing to stay put.

"We've also made the decision to have Greg's sperm frozen.

"We'd love to have more children and with research in its infancy, I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation which could have been prevented."

The couple already have a son, one-year-old Milo.

Last month, 150 global experts signed an open letter to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urging the Games to be moved or delayed because of the virus .

Zika is known to cause birth defects if contracted by pregnant women.

Cyclist Tejay van Garderen, as well as golfers Vijay Singh and Marc Leishman, have already pulled out of the Games due to risks associated with the virus.

American television presenter Savannah Guthrie also announced on Tuesday she is pregnant and consequently would not be going to report on the Games on doctors' advice.

However, Rio 2016 organisers insist there is no public health justification for the event being postponed or moved, saying there is "very low or no risk" to athletes and fans.