Jordan Spieth has Pulled Out of the 2016 Olympic Games

It was announced yesterday that Jordan Spieth has pulled out of the 2016 Olympic Games over concerns about the Zika virus.

Olympic golf is taking another major hit after Jordan Spieth made US gambling news by announcing he will not be competing in the Rio Games. Spieth is the latest high-profile golfer to announce a withdrawal from the Olympics after top players Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and Rory Mcllroy seceded as well.

Spieth will make a formal announcement to the press before the Open Championship today. He has been replaced by Matt Kuchar.

President of the IGF Peter Dawson believes the golfers’ withdrawals from the Olympics has hurt the sport’s image, telling reporters it “hasn’t shed golf in the best light.” He elaborated on his opinion of the situation by saying, “Personally, I think there's been something of an overreaction to the Zika situation, but that's for individuals to determine, and there's certainly a great deal of concern about this issue inside the game of golf.”

Who Else has Pulled Out of the Olympics due to the Zika Virus?

The World Health Organization declared the Zika Virus a global health emergency in late May of this year. The mosquito-transmitted virus can have devastating effects on newborn babies, and symptoms are often mistaken for another ailments.

Jordan Spieth has pulled out of the games this week, but a number of athletes across multiple sports have also cited the Zika Virus as the main reason they will not be making the trip to Brazil. Tejay van Garderen, a cyclist, told the press he didn’t want to risk Zika complications with his pregnant wife by traveling to Brazil. Another golfer, Vijay Singh, has also pulled out of the games over Zika fears.

Many athletes have voiced their concerns over the Zika virus, but are choosing to compete anyways. Heptathlon athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill said, “I have to make sure I understand what’s happening and what the risks are. It’s something I have to be on top of.” Romanian tennis player Simona Halep is also very concerned about the virus, but is planning to compete nonetheless.

What do you think about the news that Jordan Spieth has pulled out of the Olympic Games? Does it really shed golf in a bad light? Leave your comments below, and make sure to check out GamingZion’s list of online sportsbooks in the US to find the best websites for betting on the 2016 Olympics!