Sir Charles negative for coronavirus

Charles Barkley said Monday he tested negative for coronavirus after he recently fell ill.

“I’ve received my COVID-19 test results this morning and they are negative,” Barkley said in a statement released by Turner Sports. “I’d like to thank everyone for reaching out and expressing your concern and support. You all be safe and please take the necessary actions to help ensure your well-being.”

Barkley previously called into “Inside The NBA,” the TNT show he co-hosts, on March 12 to report he was self-isolating and getting tested for coronavirus.

“I’m just kind of in limbo right now. I’m hoping, I’m really hoping, it was just a bug,” the 57year-old Barkley said.

The day prior, the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. Several NBA players have also tested positive for coronavirus, including Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell and Nets star Kevin Durant.

Other sports leagues followed the NBA’s lead and canceled or postponed events.

HOOPS BOSS: PUT THE BALLS AWAY

Basketball governing body, FIBA, is telling players around the world to stay inside.

FIBA president Hamane Niang and secretary general Andreas Zagklis says that in “no circumstance should our passion to play basketball surpass the importance of following the instructions of the public authorities” when it comes to helping ensure public health.

FIBA says it plans to make decisions soon about the Basketball Champions League, the Basketball Champions League Americas and the Basketball Africa League — as well as all suspended international competitions.

FIBA also is monitoring the Olympic developments as the world begins bracing for — and in some cases, advocating for — a postponement of this year’s Tokyo Games. Since qualifying is not yet completed, FIBA says “there is a growing need for answers to be provided quickly.”

Niang and Zagklis added that “we will not ask our players to go somewhere, where we would not send our own children.”