Lithuanian basketball rocked by scandal and poor results as federation chief announces resignation
Amid a harassment scandal cover-up and a struggling men's national team in World Cup qualifying, Lithuanian Basketball Association president Mindaugas Balčiūnas has announced he is stepping down.
Lithuanian basketball is facing a period of turmoil, with the men's national team struggling in World Cup qualifiers and the Lithuanian Basketball Association under heavy criticism both for those results and its handling of a sexual harassment scandal. On Wednesday, LRT TV held a discussion on the crisis featuring association president Mindaugas Balčiūnas, club officials and basketball experts. Following the broadcast, Balčiūnas announced on Friday that he would resign from his post.
Harassment scandal
In February last year, women's national team players anonymously described inappropriate and psychologically abusive behaviour by then head coach Rimantas Grigas. The association's own ethics commission investigated for just three days and found no evidence of sexual harassment. By contrast, an investigation by FIBA lasted a year and a half, concluding on September 4 with a ban on Grigas from all basketball activity until October 27, 2030. Balčiūnas acknowledged that the association's initial assessment had been inaccurate and apologised to the players, but critics — including officials from other Lithuanian sports federations and basketball journalists — accused him of dishonesty and incompetence. Basketballnews director Jonas Miklovas said Balčiūnas had known about the allegations for at least two years, yet took no meaningful action until the case became public, even continuing to promote Grigas to another club in the meantime.
From glory to a laughing stock
The men's national team, coached by Rimas Kurtinaitis, has won four and lost four games in World Cup qualifying, sitting fourth in its group, with only the top three advancing. Balčiūnas insisted the team's results over the past decade have been among the best, but critics pointed to a heavy defeat to Italy in July and the association's failure to find a replacement after Kurtinaitis briefly resigned, forcing him to stay on. Club officials argued the national team's prestige has collapsed, with declining fan interest and an association unable to attract top coaching talent or organise preparation properly. During a recent qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina, fans displayed a banner urging Balčiūnas to leave basketball to people who love the sport.
