Barcelona, Jun 16 (AP) Russian basketball clubs were suspended on Thursday from the next season of the EuroLeague.

EuroLeague organisers cited "air travel restrictions and prohibitions or other limitations to issuing visas to Russian residents" during the country's war with Ukraine.

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The 18-team league had three Russian entrants last season — CSKA Moscow on a long-term license and one-year entries for UNICS Kazan and Zenit St Petersburg. Their results were annulled after Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

The EuroLeague suspension aligns with many other sports bodies who have removed Russian teams and athletes from their competitions. Several appeal cases are pending at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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The International Olympic Committee has said Russian teams and athletes are being protected from hostility, not punished for their nationality.

"Executive Board members also considered that protecting the integrity and regularity of the competition and the safety of all stakeholders is the ultimate priority," the EuroLeague said, "and should not be put at risk." AP

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)