You're reading: FIBA denies allowing Crimean basketball clubs to join Russian championships

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) says it did not allow Crimean basketball clubs to join the Russian championships, the Ukrainian Basketball Federation reports.

An official letter signed by FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann dated February 20, addressed to Ukrainian Basketball Federation President Oleksandr Volkov and Russian Basketball Federation President Yulia Anikeeva, is available on the Ukrainian Basketball Federation website.

“Following some media reports that have come out in recent days, alleging that FIBA has allowed Crimean clubs to join the Russian championships, we would like to inform and confirm to you that this is not the case and that we are unaware as for the origin of such reports,” the letter says.

Russian authorities in charge of basketball and government officials in charge of sport visited FIBA to discuss the matter during the last months of 2014, it said.

“During this meeting, FIBA indicated that for basketball purposes it is not up to FIBA to take a decision, but that a solution must be jointly discussed between the Russian and the Ukrainian Basketball Federations,” the letter said.

“FIBA has not taken any other position on the matter but remains at your disposal to organize the said meeting as soon as acceptable for both parties,” it said.

FIBA said it proposed holding such a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian Basketball Federations at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.