International basketball federation FIBA bars Russia from upcoming world tournaments
New Delhi: The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has officially confirmed its decision to suspend the Russian national women and men’s teams from the FIBA World Cup competitions in 2022 and 2023 respectively, according to FIBA’s statement on Wednesday.
The world’s governing body of basketball also barred Russia from international 3×3 basketball competitions in men and women’s categories.
According to the statement from FIBA’s press office, the world’s governing body of basketball decided to impose sanctions both in regard to national teams of Russia and Belarus, namely against the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) and the Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF).
“Further to the decision taken on March 1, 2022, and confirmed by the Central Board on March 25, 2022, to not allow Russian teams and officials to participate in FIBA Basketball and 3×3 Basketball competitions, the FIBA Executive Committee today has confirmed decisions in regard to the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) and the Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF) for FIBA Basketball Competitions that will take place over the coming months,” according to the statement.
The statement reads that “Russia is withdrawn from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 to be played in Australia from September 22 to October 1. The replacement team is Puerto Rico.”
In regard to men’s national teams of Russia and Belarus at the 2023 World Cup, FIBA’s press office stated that “Russia is withdrawn from Group H and Belarus is withdrawn from Group B of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers, with no replacement teams appointed.”
FIBA also stated that “Russia is withdrawn from the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. The next ranked teams, Israel for women and Slovenia for men, will be invited to participate… Russia is withdrawn from the FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League. There will be no replacement teams.”
The global federation also barred basketballers of Russia and Belarus from FIBA 3×3 U17 Europe Cup Qualifiers 2022 and FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup 2022.
“FIBA’s European Zone Board and the Basketball Champions League Board have been invited to take corresponding decisions for the respective national team and club competitions, which will be communicated in the next coming days. FIBA will continue to closely monitor the situation and take further decisions as needed,” the statement from FIBA’s press office added.
On February 28, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments referring to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Following the IOC recommendations in late February, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.
(Vinayak)
