FIBA has suspended Brazil’s basketball federation for longstanding issues, including outstanding payments due to FIBA, meaning Brazil can’t compete in international events.
FIBA’s central board will re-evaluate the Brazil federation’s status on Jan. 28, according to a press release that outlined several items that must be fixed.
Brazil was not in strong standing with FIBA in the years leading up to the Rio Olympics. FIBA did not grant Brazil automatic host-nation places in the Rio men’s and women’s basketball tournaments until one year before the Games due to the federation’s money owed.
Men’s basketball qualifying for the 2020 Olympics starts with the 2019 FIBA World Cup. North and South American nations are slated to begin qualifying for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in November 2017.
Nations that don’t qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup could still qualify for the 2020 Olympics through later continental tournaments.