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Title: FIBA Reopens Path for Russia and Belarus to Return to 3×3 Basketball

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be permitted to compete in 3×3 basketball events under a neutral flag, marking a significant policy shift from previous bans imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.

This decision, confirmed in recent communications from FIBA, allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international 3×3 competitions without displaying national symbols, flags, or anthems. The move applies specifically to the 3×3 discipline and does not extend to traditional 5-on-5 basketball events, where restrictions remain in place for national teams from both countries.

FIBA’s Executive Committee had previously ruled in March 2022 that no Russian or Belarusian teams or officials could participate in FIBA-sanctioned competitions. That stance was later reinforced in May 2022, when the federation announced the withdrawal of Russia from Group H and Belarus from Group B in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers, with all results annulled and no replacement teams appointed.

Under the updated policy, individual athletes from Russia and Belarus may now compete in 3×3 events as neutral participants, provided they meet eligibility requirements and do not represent their nations officially. This approach mirrors similar measures taken by other international sports federations seeking to balance geopolitical concerns with athletes’ rights to compete.

The change reflects evolving discussions within global sports governance about the conditions under which athletes from sanctioned countries may return to international competition. While some organizations maintain full bans, others have adopted neutral-status pathways as a compromise solution.

FIBA has not disclosed the specific criteria or oversight mechanisms for verifying neutral status, nor has it indicated whether similar allowances will be considered for other basketball disciplines in the future. The federation continues to state that no FIBA official competitions will be held in Russia or Belarus until further notice.