Both events had been set to take place in in Alexandria in Egypt next month but have now been moved to July following a vote by the UIPM Executive Board.

The Youth World Championships are now scheduled for July 4 to 10, with the Junior World Championships set to follow from July 11 to 17.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions faced by teams coming into Egypt were taken into account in a report presented to the Executive Board by local organisers in Alexandria.

"With great regret we announce the postponement of the UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships and UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships," said UIPM President Klaus Schormann.

"The coronavirus pandemic is seriously testing the resolve of most countries around the world and health must be the priority at this uniquely challenging time. 

"I feel very sorry for our junior and youth athletes that they must continue to wait for their chance to compete on the world stage again.  

"While the Executive Board has decided to reschedule these competitions to a later date in 2021, we have every confidence in the local Organising Committee to organise these competitions in the safest possible circumstances with all precautions in place according to the UIPM guidelines."

Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation President Sharif Elerian said the most important thing was the safety of all involved in the competition.

"We have waited for nearly a full year for official pentathlon competitions to take place again, an extra four-month delay we can all withstand together," said Elerian.

The decision taken by the UIPM follows the cancellation of the Junior World Championships and Youth World Championships last year.

The UIPM agreed to stage the 2021 youth and junior events in one location after the cancellation of the 2020 Championships.

The next UIPM event on the 2021 calendar is set to be the Pentathlon World Cup Budapest, scheduled to take place from March 24 to 28.