(Mies) Russia have been excluded from the qualification process for the Paris Olympics men’s basketball tournament next summer, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced on Tuesday.
This decision was expected as FIBA took the decision to suspend Russian teams from all international competitions just days after the start of the invasion of Ukraine last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in favor of reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes in individual disciplines under a neutral banner, but not for those who compete in team sports, such as basketball.
Russia’s world ranking allowed them to participate in the Olympic qualification process this year, but their place will instead be given to Bulgaria, the highest-ranked European team behind them, FIBA said in a press release citing the recommendations of the CIO.
The Russian women’s basketball team had already been left out of the qualification process after being suspended from the World Cup and EuroBasket qualifying competition last year. Belarus will not be able to qualify in men’s and women’s basketball.
The fate of the three-on-three basketball teams, a discipline on the Olympic program, is unknown at this time.
