The 2020 Bandy World Championship in Russia has been cancelled ©FIB

This year's Bandy World Championship in Russia has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Federation of International Bandy (FIB) confirmed the tournament, which had been scheduled to take place in Irkutsk from October 5 to 11, had been called off.

In a statement, the worldwide body said the decision had been made "on recommendations of the Foreign Ministries of the countries taking part in this major competition".

The FIB added all the competing nations had agreed with the call to cancel the World Championship but expressed its "regret" at the decision.

The Federation of International Bandy expressed its regret at the decision to cancel its flagship tournament ©FIB
The Federation of International Bandy expressed its regret at the decision to cancel its flagship tournament ©FIB

It had been widely expected the event would be cancelled after three countries withdrew from the tournament due to travel restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Sweden, runners-up at the last two World Championships, Germany and the United States pulled out of the event last month, leaving Russia, Kazakhstan, Finland, Estonia and Norway as the remaining participants.

"We will take every step to find a solution to this unprecedented situation," said FIB President Boris Skrynnik.

"Bandy will not be beaten."

Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia, had been scheduled to host competition from March 29 to April 5 before the global health crisis prompted the move to later in the year.