The USABS has decided not to send its athletes to Europe in the first half of the season ©Getty Images

The United States’ bobsleigh and skeleton teams will not be competing in Europe for "at least" the first half of the World Cup season to ensure the safety of their athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last month saw the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) unveil its calendar for the upcoming campaign which aimed to minimise travel by holding double races in the Latvian town of Sigulda and the Austrian city of Innsbruck.

But the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USABS) confirmed its teams would not be competing in those events in order to "reduce quarantine periods" and provide the "safest environments possible".

The United States' bobsleigh and skeleton teams are due to begin training in Lake Placid next month ©Getty Images
The United States' bobsleigh and skeleton teams are due to begin training in Lake Placid next month ©Getty Images

The USABS has also released "tentative" dates for the team trials which are due to start on November 19 in Lake Placid with the final races scheduled for December 15 in Park City.

The national team is expected to be announced on December 16.

Aron McGuire, chief executive for USABS, said: "We are taking every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of our athletes, coaches, and staff members, which means we will not be travelling to Europe for at least the first half of the season.

"We will be utilising our home tracks to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

"We are fortunate to have two world class facilities in our country that we can train and compete on this season."