Germany has withdrawn from two major European Gymnastics events this year ©Getty Images

Germany has pulled out of this year's European Gymnastics Championships in the artistic and rhythmic disciplines because of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The German Gymnastics Federation (DTB), which hosted last year's Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, confirmed it would not send athletes to either event "to ensure the health of athletes and teams" which had been due to compete.

Britain has also withdrawn from the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which have been moved from Azerbaijan to Turkey as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The men's European Artistic Gymnastics Championships are set to take place from December 9 to 13, with the women's scheduled to follow from December 17 to 20.

Olympic qualification will not be on offer at the events after the European Gymnastics Executive Committee decided last month it did not want to put pressure on federations to travel to the Championships.

Fabian Hambüchen is among the German gymnasts who will be absent from the European Artistic Championships in Turkey ©Getty Images
Fabian Hambüchen is among the German gymnasts who will be absent from the European Artistic Championships in Turkey ©Getty Images

Kyiv is due to host the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships between November 26 and 29.

Russia is among the other nations to have declined to send athletes to the competition in Ukraine's capital.

Ukraine has reported more than 270,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 5,100 deaths from the virus.

The figures in Azerbaijan are considerably lower as the country has recorded around 42,000 cases and more than 600 deaths.

A rise in coroanavirus cases across Europe has sparked fears over sports events on the continent, but both the European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships are set to go ahead.