Brazil to compete at Rio 2016 tournaments after awarded automatic qualification by FIBA

Brazil have been granted automatic qualification for both their men's and women's teams for Rio 2016 ©FIBA

Brazil will compete in the men’s and women’s basketball competitions on home soil at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after resolving their dispute with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), it was announced today.

The decision was made at a meeting of FIBA’s ruling Central Board in the Japanese capital Tokyo and follows basketball’s world governing body giving Brazil a deadline of July 31 to settle their “significant” debt.

The Brazil Olympic Committee has made a “firm commitment” to pay the outstanding money, with the announcement coming as a result of a proposal put forward by the Brazil Basketball Confederation.

It outlined the reasons why Brazil should be granted a place at Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, all of which met the requirements laid out by FIBA.

The host country is traditionally given an automatic berth to compete in its home Olympics but, according to FIBA statutes, the final decision rests with the Central Board.

Brazil have never won an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

The women, however, claimed silver at Atlanta in 1996, losing to the United States in the final.

The men, meanwhile, have won a bronze medal on three occasions, at London 1948, Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964.

Russia have been allowed to compete in upcoming international competitions despite the RFB's suspension — Russia have been allowed to compete in upcoming international competitions, including next month's EuroBasket Championships, despite the suspension of its national governing body ©Getty Images

FIBA’s Central Board also upheld the suspension placed on the Russian Basketball Federation (RFB) by its Executive Committee at the meeting but allowed them to participate in upcoming competitions, including the EuroBasket Championships in September, which doubles as a qualification event for Rio 2016.

Russia’s national teams were banned from competing in international tournaments, with FIBA citing Governmental interference as the reason for the suspension imposed on July 29.

FIBA claimed “longstanding institutional and legal issues” had prevented the RFB from being governed properly.

In cooperation with the Russian Olympic Committee and Russian Ministry of Sport, FIBA also announced they will establish a Task Force to establish statutes and regulations for the RFB.

“Russian national teams will be able to take part in all FIBA's tournaments, however sanctions in relation to members of the RFB will still remain in place,” Russian Deputy Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov told R-Sport.