EuroBasket 2022 not to feature Russia

The Russian national basketball team will not play in the 2022 European basketball championship (EuroBasket), FIBA Europe said Friday. 

"Russia is withdrawn from FIBA EuroBasket 2022," the European basketball's governing body said in a statement.

Montenegro were named to replace Russia in the tournament that will begin in September.

"Montenegro, as the team with the best win-loss record (3-3) among those who didn’t advance from the EuroBasket Qualifiers, will replace Russia in the tournament and will compete in Group A in Tbilisi," it added.

The Board of FIBA Europe met in Vilnius, Lithuania to apply that the teams of the Russian and Belarusian basketball bodies withdrew from the national team and club competitions in the 2022-23 season.

So following the decision by FIBA, Turkiye will play host nation Georgia, Spain, Bulgaria, Belgium and Montenegro in Group A.

The EuroBasket 2022 Group A will start Sept. 1 as Spain will take on Bulgaria at the Tbilisi Arena.

Four countries -- the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany and Italy are set to co-host the 41st edition of the FIBA EuroBasket.

The group stage will be in Prague, Tbilisi, Cologne and Milan as each city will host one group.

Following the group stage, the tournament's Final Phase will be played in the German capital Berlin.

The championship game will take place on Sept. 18.