An athletics team will not be sent due to the financial burden and location of the Games, due to take place between July 28 and August 8 and which are expected to be under strict COVID-19 restrictions.

"Athletics Canada does not have the necessary discretionary funding to support this team, nor do we feel it appropriate to pass these significant costs along to athletes," said the national governing body in a statement.

"The decision was also based on the adverse public health situation in China. 

"The ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in the country have already proven prohibitive enough to force the postponement of the 2023 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing to 2025.

The Chengdu 2021 World University Games were postponed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U Sports, the Canadian university sport governing body, confirmed Swimming Canada would not send a team either, having been informed in November.

U Sports promised it would speak to its members over participation.

"U Sports continues to engage member institutions around the feasibility of sending a Canadian delegation to Chengdu, China, for the 2023 FISU Summer World University Games and look to make a decision in the coming weeks," U Sports chief of sports Lisette Johnson-Stapley told the Canadian Press

"The student-athlete experience is at the forefront of our decision-making process, and there are many factors to assess as we make the best possible decision for our student-athletes, team staff and mission staff."

Diving, water polo and archery teams will not be attending the Games either.

At the last Summer University Games in Naples four years ago, Canada finished 28th on the overall medals table with one gold, one silver and three bronze.

The gold came in athletics where Sarah Mitton won the women's shot put. 

Nicole Hutchinson won a silver medal in the women's 5,000 metres and Courtney Hufsmith a bronze in the women's 1500m. 

Two of the bronze medals came in diving thanks to Laurent Gosselin-Paradis in the men's 10 metre platform and the 10m synchronized platform where he teamed up with Ethan Pitman.

A further bronze was won in the the women's 4x100m medley relay,