Tokyo hopefuls may be asked to shut down training indefinitely as IOC board member Dick Pound claimed the decision has been made to postpone the Games.
Canada pulled the plug on its participation overnight as Australian athletes were told to prepare for the Games to be moved to the summer of next year.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has suggested for the first time that a postponement could happen due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"If it's difficult to hold the games in such a way, we have to decide to postpone it, giving top priority to the health of the athletes," Abe told Japan's parliament.
IOC chiefs stated on Sunday night that they would take the next four weeks to decide on a postponement or on downscaling the Games that were due to begin on July 24.
However veteran IOC official Pound told USA Today: "On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided.
"The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.
"It will come in stages. We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense."
Speaking this morning, OFI chief executive Peter Sherrard conceded it was looking more and more likely that postponement would happen.
"I imagine most people at this stage are looking forwards towards next year, if there was a decision to be made," said Sherrard.
"It's something where we need to give ourselves a little bit of time to talk to our athletes, talk to our performance directors in their sports to get a better picture of their views before having a firm position."
The OFI hasn't gone as far as Canada but is in the process of contacting the member sports for their views on training in the current climate.
OFI president Sarah Keane stated: “We need to consider what’s right for our athletes, coaches, federations and all involved in supporting the system in Ireland.
"This does include considering if our potential Olympians can and/or should continue to engage in organised training for the foreseeable future.
“This may go against the grain of what they're used to doing day in day out, however at this time all options must be considered which we will do in conjunction with our member federations, athletes, Sport Ireland and other stakeholders.
"We can and are providing input into the IOC as the ultimate decision making body for the 2020 Olympic Games.
"However, we can make decisions in Ireland for the best of Team Ireland and all involved.”
Through the OFI Athletes Commission, contact will be made with all athletes on the long list for Tokyo to assess the training restrictions of Irish athletes and their environments and to get a handle on their major concerns over Tokyo.
The information will be used as part of an update compiled by the IOC.
Team Ireland Chef de Mission, Tricia Heberle said: “Our national federations, our performance directors and athletes have responded incredibly well in the face of the Covid 19 pandemic.
"On the premise that Tokyo 2020 will be postponed, we now need to get their input before taking next steps".
Questions the OFI will put to their member federations and athletes:
The OFI will be looking for views on the following:
1) The current environment for their sport at elite level for those athletes tracking towards Tokyo
2) Restrictions to the training environment for their elite athletes
3) A general qualitative update on the current mood and any concerns that they have
4) On the basis that the OFI feels that Games are likely to be postponed, what is their current position on halting training sessions temporarily at this point?
