The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Executive Committee has decided not to allow the Russian men’s national team to register for the 2023 Olympic pre-qualifying tournaments.
“Following the IOC recommendations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions published on 28 March, the FIBA Executive Committee decided not to allow the registration of the Russian men’s team in Olympic pre-qualification tournaments”, FIBA said in a statement.
It is reported that the Russian team was replaced with Bulgaria. The participants in the European qualifiers include Ukraine, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Turkey.
All teams will be divided into two groups, with the winner of each group being eligible to participate in the qualifying tournaments before Paris 2024. The preliminary qualifying matches will take place from 12 to 20 August 2023. The draw will take place on 1 May.
Earlier, FIBA suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus from participating in competitions under the auspices of the organisation.
Additionally, the Russian Federation and Belarus are deprived of the right to host any competitions under the auspices of FIBA.
On 17 April, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine published a list of athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus who supported the war started by Russia.
