Egyptian side Al Ittihad Alexandria has warned players including Ghanaian-born Togolese defender Wilson Akakpo not to gain weight during the current layoff due to the rampaging Coronavirus.
Coach Talaat Youssef has warned sanctions will be imposed on players who gain weight during the break.
The Egyptian side will return to training next week amid a break due to the deadly virus which has killed hundreds so far.
However, the foreign quartet of Ivorian Razak Cisse, Togolese Wilson Akakpo, Syrian Omar Al-Midani and Ugandan Emmanuel Okoy will join the team in early April.
The club fears the break could prove counter-productive as players are likely to stay away from training, which means they could gain weight.