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Foreign players’ quota in Russian Basketball League clubs to be cut next season

VTB United League has also cancelled a license allowing to play in international tournaments only

MOSCOW, June 14. /TASS/. The Council of the Russian Basketball League (VTB United League) has made a decision to reduce the currently allowed number of foreign players in each club from eight to six beginning with the next season, Ilona Korstin, the league’s director general, said on Tuesday.

"We have reduced the number of allowed legionnaires. There were eight of them and will be now six," Korstin said, speaking at a news conference. "We have also cancelled a license that granted permission to play in international tournaments only."

"We also keep fighting against the doping abuse and all players and coaches have now to undergo RUSADA’s [the Russian Anti-Doping Agency] training courses and later present an official certificate," she added.

VTB United League is a Russian global professional men's club basketball league, founded in 2008. Twelve clubs will be lined up to play in the league starting with the next season.

Sanctions against Russian basketball

In mid-May, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has officially confirmed its decision to suspend the Russian national women and men’s teams from the FIBA World Cup competitions in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The world’s governing body of basketball also barred Russia from international 3x3 basketball competitions in men and women’s categories. According to the statement from FIBA’s press office on May 18, the world’s governing body of basketball decided to impose sanctions both in regard to the national teams of Russia and Belarus, namely against the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) and the Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF).

On February 28, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, referring to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.

Following the IOC recommendations in late February, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

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