FIBA confirms Lebanon's suspension

The Lebanese Basketball Federation was unable to overturn their suspension by FIBA, and as a result, will not be able to play in the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship in Manila, Lebanon's Daily Star reported.

The Lebanese Republic's Ministry of Information released a statement prior, saying that the ban was for four years, citing Jean Hammam, Head of the International Olympic Committee.

The Lebanon national team was already in Manila training when the news broke.

“At the outset, we wish to reiterate that the suspension of your federation has not been a decision taken hastily by FIBA. It was indeed approved by the FIBA central board due to events of the utmost gravity whereby one club has been able, with external political support, to disrupt entirely the smooth running of the Lebanese national championship,” the Daily Star reported, quoting the FIBA statement.

“The scenario represents without any doubt the most serious violation of the FIBA General Statutes and all principles under which the Olympic sports movement is founded.

“Despite your attempts and those of the FIBA ASIA secretary-general within the past few days to find solutions to these issues, the situation remains highly unstable and the governance issues affecting basketball in Lebanon are much deeper and much more serious than the mere absence of proper appeal and disciplinary regulations within your statutes. Accordingly we are regretfully not in a position to reconsider our decision of July 11, 2013, and the Lebanese basketball federation remains suspended,”

Earlier this week, Lebanon failed to meet a FIBA-imposed deadline for the local basketball federation and several local basketball club to sign a memorandum of agreement, with terms that included agreeing to restart the local professional league and to settle several legal cases outside of court.

Lebanon was originally drawn into Group B for the FIBA Asia Championship, along with Japan, Qatar and Hong Kong. Furthermore, the country was set to be hosts for the tournament until the FIBA Asia Executive Committee opted to change the venue to the Philippines earlier this year. - AMD, GMA News


Full statement from FIBA on the suspension of Lebanon:

MIES - Following the disruption of the Lebanese national championship due to political and judicial interferences, FIBA suspended the Lebanese Basketball Federation (LBF) on 11 July 2013 for serious infringement of the FIBA General Statutes and all principles under which the Olympic sports movement is founded.

After a thorough review of the situation, FIBA notes that the LBF is not properly armed to face political interferences and solve sporting disputes within its own structures. In addition, FIBA has been informed of allegations of wrongdoings and political pressure leading a number of federation officials to resign from their positions in the Management Board.

FIBA and FIBA Asia did not want to penalise athletes, technical staff, sponsors and basketball fans who have worked for so long and eagerly awaited the participation of Lebanon at the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship and possibly the FIBA Basketball World Cup. This is why FIBA offered - through a letter dated 28 June 2013 - the LBF the opportunity to solve these matters urgently. Regretfully, the Lebanese basketball family was not in the position to meet the requirements outlined and must now assume the consequences of its organisational deficiencies and actions.

Until proper structures and statutes are put into place to ensure that basic activities - such as holding of a national championship - of the national federation can be carried out smoothly, with proper regulations and without political interference, the LBF shall not be re-admitted with full rights as a member of FIBA or be allowed to participate in international basketball competitions.

FIBA and FIBA Asia remain fully committed to helping the LBF in its re-organisation process. FIBA will establish a Working group to meet with all parties, supervise the Extraordinary General Assembly and help establish a federation that functions independently and effectively, in accordance with all principles that are at the core of FIBA's General Statutes.

- FIBA