Liz Cambage reprimand: Andrew Bogut slams Basketball Australia’s penalty for Opals star

Liz Cambage’s pre-Olympics behaviour is essentially going unpunished and Andrew Bogut is worried the decision sets a dangerous precedent for any similar instances in the future.

Boomers legend Andrew Bogut believes Basketball Australia has set a dangerous precedent by only reprimanding Opals star Liz Cambage for her behaviour during a pre-Olympic scrimmage against Nigeria.

Cambage had faced an independent panel to discuss her involvement in the heated physical and verbal altercation that unfolded in a closed-door scrimmage against the Nigerians in Las Vegas in July prior to the Tokyo Olympics.

Basketball Australia released a statement late on Friday to announce the panel determined that Cambage did engage in conduct that brought Basketball Australia into censure in relation to one of the incidents charged.

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However, charges in relation to the other three alleged incidents were dismissed.

It means the 30-year-old could yet play for Australia again and be eligible to join the Opals at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney next September.

Liz Cambage has been reprimanded by Basketball Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

It’s understood Basketball Australia were expecting a harsher penalty for Cambage from the independent panel. However, an appeal would take months and BA have opted to let the matter rest.

Bogut is disappointed with the hearing’s findings as he believes Cambage’s behaviour is going unpunished.

“The problem is the words that Liz said haven’t been made public,” Bogut said.

“That is a problem and that is what BA is going to hide behind, but everyone in the basketball community has heard what words were uttered and it was disgraceful.

“It just sets a precedent now that if any athlete makes comments akin to what Cambage has alleged to have said, a minor reprimand is the max penalty they are going to get.

Andrew Bogut believes Basketball Australia has set a dangerous precedent with the penalty handed to Liz Cambage. Picture: Adam Yip

“That is a pretty dangerous footing for BA.

“Also, what is the reprimand and what and why were the other three charges thrown out?

“If they have a player do something stupid in the future, they have no leg to stand on and that is really concerning for our program and our game.”

Regardless of the hearing’s outcome, Cambage must mend relationships within the Australian set up following her alleged behaviour. The four-time WNBA All-Star has previously conceded she came to blows in a heated verbal clash.

“Yeah, things got heated in the Nigeria game. There was a physical altercation and there were words exchanged, but I’m hearing things that aren’t true at all,” Cambage said.

“Everything that happened and everything that was said is on film. I know what happened.”

Liz Cambage could return to the Opals squad for the FIBA Women’s Wolrd Cup in Sydney next year.

Cambage withdrew from the Opals’ Tokyo Olympic campaign shortly after the incident came to light, citing mental health struggles, including panic attacks.

The Opals dropped out in the quartet-final stages in her absence.

Despite Cambage’s denials, Basketball Australia released a statement on July 19 confirming its integrity unit was investigating a “breach of the integrity framework and code of conduct”.

Despite suggestions Cambage would receive a stronger sanction for her behaviour, both the player and BA opted against appealing the findings of the independent hearing panel.

A formal reprimand was the lowest penalty available to them.

A BA statement said the panel found Cambage guilty of prohibitive conduct on one charge and dismissed three other charges.

“The panel after examination of the evidence before it, determined that Elizabeth Cambage did engage in conduct that brought Basketball Australia into censure in relation to one of the incidents charged,” the statement said.

“Charges in relation to the other three alleged incidents were dismissed. The independent hearing panel have issued her with a formal reprimand.”

Cambage was found guilty of “Prohibited Conduct” resulting from a hearing was held on October 29.

“The panel after examination of the evidence before it, determined that Elizabeth Cambage did engage in conduct that brought Basketball Australia into censure in relation to one of the incidents charged. Charges in relation to the other three alleged incidents were dismissed,” the statement said.

Cambage has finished her WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces. She hasn’t signed with any WNBL sides for this season after playing a starring role in Southside Flyers championship win last December.