Bulleen Boomers junior star player Ivan Suslov distraught over 18-month ban

A rising basketball star is “distraught” after being slapped with lengthy ban for tunnelling an opponent during a game. Is the ban too harsh? Watch the video.

A rising junior basketball star says he has been left devastated after being slapped with an almost 18-month suspension by the league’s peak association.

Bulleen Boomers player Ivan Suslov, 14, who has played basketball since he was five and has won dozens of awards, said he had been left “distraught” after being suspended by Basketball Victoria for 78 weeks over six misconduct charges including striking, causing injury and tunnelling.

Footage provided to the Sunday Herald Sun shows the two incidents which led to the lengthy suspension. In the first, it was alleged Mr Suslov strikes the other player and in the second incident it’s alleged he caused tunnelling, which is knocking or pulling the legs of an airborne person.

Ivan Suslov was banned for 78 weeks. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Suslov, who fronted a tribunal last week, said he was extremely apologetic for his unsportsmanlike behaviour but felt the lengthy suspension and charges were “completely unreasonable”.

“I didn’t mean to injure the player. I was running fast with my eyes on the ball to defend our rim when he was going for the lay-up,” he said.

“I have been left so devastated, basketball is my whole life and the thought of being unable to play has severely affected my mental health.

“I’ve seen far worse incidents occur on the court and the fact that this ban is 78 weeks is a real shock to me.”

Mr Suslov said it was revealed in the tribunal that the player involved in the second incident had broken his hand.

“I wasn’t aware of this, as the player continued to play for four weeks after the incident. I also apologised to him the next day and he accepted my apology.”

The Sunday Herald Sun has also received copies of character statements from various sports leaders, which describe Ivan as a young man of “character, intelligence, talent and displays the leadership that every coach hopes for his top players”.

Ivan Suslov was banned from Bulleen Basketball Club after an altercation with another player. Picture: Tony Gough

His father, Leonid Suslov, said his family had been left shocked by the ban.

“If the referees believed that he had done something so serious including intentionally causing injury, why didn’t they take him off the court and why didn’t game officials report the incident immediately after the game?” he said.

“It was reported four weeks after and my son has continued to play for almost four weeks after the incident.”

Mr Suslov said he hoped Basketball Victoria would review its decision and reduce the suspension.

“Ivan has had multiple emotional breakdowns after this claim, which I worry will impact his mental health going forward.”

A Basketball Victoria spokesman said the association confirmed a junior player appeared before a Basketball Victoria Tribunal sitting at Eltham on March 11.

“The tribunal was an independent tribunal adjudicating on very serious charges and imposed a penalty of 78 weeks’ suspension,” the spokesman said.

“The player has appeal rights which are current for 14 days from the decision. Otherwise, it is inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”