In The Aftermath Of The Invasion Of Ukraine, FIBA Prohibits Russia From Participating In International Competitions: In The 3x3 Competition, Israel Replaced Their Position

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA — Sanctions from international sports parents for Russia have not stopped. Most recently, it was the turn of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to issue its ban.

FIBA officially imposed sanctions against the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) and the Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF) on Wednesday, May 18 yesterday. The men's and women's national teams of the two countries were denied permission to participate in the FIBA ​​World Cup competitions in 2022 and 2023.

The world basketball body also banned Russia from participating in international 3x3 basketball competitions in the men's and women's categories. These sanctions are the aftermath of the Red Bear State's invasion of Ukraine.

"Furthermore the decision was taken on March 1, 2022, and confirmed by the Central Council on March 25, 2022, not to allow Russian teams and officials to participate in the FIBA ​​Basketball and 3x3 Basketball competitions", read a FIBA ​​statement, reported by TASS.

The sanctions prevent the Russian women's basketball team from taking part in the 2022 FIBA ​​Women's Basketball World Cup which will be played in Australia from September 22 to October 1. The Puerto Rico women's national team was appointed as a substitute team.

The same applies to the men's national teams of Russia and Belarus at the 2023 World Cup. Russia has been ruled out of Group H and Belarus has been removed from Group B of the FIBA ​​2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifying European zone.

Meanwhile, at the FIBA ​​3x3 World Cup, the Israeli women's national team and the Slovenian men's national team were invited to participate in place of Russia. In addition, the Red Bear Nations were also withdrawn from the FIBA ​​3x3 U-23 Nations League, but no team replaced them.

FIBA also banned Russian and Belarusian basketball players from the 2022 FIBA ​​3x3 U17 European Cup Qualifiers and the 2022 FIBA ​​3x3 U18 World Cup.

"The FIBA ​​European Zone Council and the Basketball Champions League Council have been invited to take relevant decisions for their respective national teams and club competitions, which will be communicated in the coming days. FIBA will continue to monitor the situation closely and take further decisions", explained FIBA.

On February 28, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a recommendation to international sports federations to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments regarding Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.

Following the IOC's recommendation, at the end of February, the majority of global sports federations decided to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sporting tournaments.