Tokyo marathon organizers have decided to cancel entries from the general public for the event scheduled on March 1 due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Instead, the event will be limited to top-level competitors, a person with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.  

A total of 176 elite runners and 30 elite wheelchair athletes are registered for the race. 

About 38,000 people from the general public were scheduled to run in the event, one of the world's biggest such races. 

Earlier, Tokyo Marathon organizers have advised registered runners living in China "to defer their entry voluntarily."

A spokeswoman for the Tokyo Marathon Foundation declined to comment. 

The race doubles as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games, where runners will be chasing the final spot on the men's Olympic marathon team.  

Japan's men's marathon record holder Suguru Osako and past national record holder Yuta Shitara are among the invitees. 

The marathon is not the only international sporting event in Japan the virus has affected: The FIBA Asia Cup 2021 postponed a qualifying basketball game between Japan and China, originally scheduled to be held near Tokyo this week. 

(With input from agencies)