FIBA allows Russian and Belarusian representatives to return to international basketball
FIBA has followed the IOC's decision and lifted the ban on individual athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions. Teams and national squads must wait until December for a ruling.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that representatives of Russia and Belarus will again be allowed to take part in international competitions. The move follows a similar decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which permitted athletes from these countries to return to the international arena.
At this stage, the lifted restriction applies only to individuals — players, coaches, referees and support staff. This allows representatives of the two countries to return to events such as the FIBA Champions League and the Europe Cup. Clubs and national teams from Russia and Belarus, however, will have to wait longer; a decision on their participation is expected in December.
FIBA says it will work closely with the IOC, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and other Olympic team sport federations. The aim is to address logistical and player safety issues related to the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian national teams on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The federation will also assess the return of these countries' representatives in international competitions for national teams of all age groups and for clubs in both FIBA Olympic disciplines — basketball and 3x3 basketball.
The decision also has implications for Latvian clubs. VEF Rīga will take part in this season's FIBA Champions League qualification, and if it fails to advance, it will get a place in the European league, where Valmiera Glass/ViA is also set to compete.
