Women’s Basketball World Cup: Russia banned as IOC boycott bites

The draw for the Women’s basketball World Cup has a new entrant after a last-minute decision to ban Russia from competing.

USA Basketball has backed FIBA’s decision to ban Russia from competing ahead of this year’s Women’s basketball World Cup in Sydney following the nation’s decision to declare war on Ukraine.

Basketball’s governing body released a statement on Wednesday morning, condemning Russia’s unprovoked attacks and banning the country from participating in all FIBA events until further notice.

As a result, FIBA has removed Russia from the 12-team World Cup and replaced the country with “TBD” ahead of Thursday night’s official draw.

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Russia is not welcome at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

USA Basketball provided News Corp with a statement, backing FIBA’s strong stance.

“USA Basketball condemns the military action taken by Russia against the people of Ukraine,” the statement read.

“USAB supports FIBA’s decision to ban Russia’s athletes and officials from FIBA Basketball and FIBA 3x3 competition.”

FIBA said it remains very concerned by the recent events in Ukraine and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victims.

“In line with the International Olympic Committee Executive Board resolution and its reasons, FIBA has announced today that Russian teams and officials will not be allowed to participate in FIBA Basketball and 3x3 Basketball competitions until further notice,” FIBA’s statement said.

“FIBA will communicate any further decisions taken by the Central Board at its meeting on March 25, as well as by FIBA’s European Zone bodies in the next coming days.

“FIBA strongly condemns violence and hopes peace will urgently prevail.”

Australia takes on Russia at the 2012 London Olympics.

Basketball Australia has also welcomed FIBA’s decision to ban Russia from competing in all international events.

“The situation in the Ukraine is extremely distressing and as an organisation with athletes currently competing in Europe, we are monitoring this situation closely,” Basketball Australia chairman John Carey.

“The FIBA decision this morning to remove Russia at this time from competing in international FIBA sanctioned events is welcomed by Basketball Australia.

“As a member of the international sporting community Basketball Australia stands against the actions of Russia and fully supports the position of FIBA and the AOC.”

GAZE DOESN’T WANT RUSSIA AT WORLD CUP

The Russians were the last team to qualify and are currently one of 12 teams named to compete in the tournament from September 22 to October 1, but Gaze insists this must change.

“In the current situation as we speak, I don’t think is appropriate that Russia competes in the women’s World Cup,” Gaze said.

“I think FIBA should make a decision like FIFA has to disallow them to participate.”

The UK and the Netherlands have also cancelled men’s FIBA 2023 World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Belarus while the US recently wouldn’t give Russia’s women’s basketball team visas for coronavirus vaccine reasons while tensions were rising.

NSW Sport Minister Stuart Ayres would also like to see FIBA act swiftly and ban Russia from the Women’s basketball World Cup in Sydney.

“Russian national teams should be banned from all international competitions and I would encourage all sporting clubs with Russian businesses as sponsors to drop them immediately,” Ayres said.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian is unacceptable and should lead to a complete rejection by the sporting world.”

Russia’s position in the Women’s basketball World Cup has come under the microscope following world sport’s strong stance on the country competing internationally due to its declaration of war on Ukraine.

Sport and politics have unified against the Russians invading their close European neighbours.

FIFA has expelled and suspended Russia from all international football competition “until further notice”, including this year’s men’s World Cup in Qatar.

Andrew Gaze wants Russia to be banned from this year’s FIBA world cup. Main: Russia’s Andrei Fetissov, left, and Australia’s Chris Anstey square off.

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) have also outlawed any Russian team or club from competing, which also includes the lucrative Champions League.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged sport federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The IOC also withdrew the Olympic Order, its highest award, from all high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says the Olympic movement in Australia supports the IOC stance and urges Australian sporting organisations to observe the IOC’s recommendations.

“We are certainly urging our member sports not to invite teams or athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus or rescind any invitations that may have been issued – and to withdraw Australian athletes and officials from any sports events where Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials may be participating,” Carroll said.

“I am writing to all our members today to convey this position and to get a sense of which sports may be impacted by this recommendation.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Ukrainian Olympic community, and we strongly condemn the Russian attacks on their country.

“We all want peace and for Russia to immediately withdraw from Ukraine.”

IOC Executive Board urges all International Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarushttps://t.co/w3zJFhiWpc

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) February 25, 2022

Russia also won’t compete in the T20 cricket World Cup in Australia from October 16 to November 13.

News Corp has been told it’s in FIBA hands to exclude Russia from this year’s Women’s Basketball World Cup and there is a strong belief that the governing body will act and ban the Russians from the Cup.

FIBA officials are arriving in Sydney in the next few days for the World Cup draw announcement on Thursday night from 7pm (AEDT).

Originally published as Women’s Basketball World Cup: Russia banned as IOC boycott bites