Canada Basketball pledged that it will not compete in any competitions with Russia "until the rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian people have been reinstated," in a statement released Monday.
The national governing body for basketball added that it "stands in solidarity with Ukrainians" both in Canada and in Ukraine, and said it will be providing support to Canadian players currently playing in Russia.
The statement comes as sports organizations around the world take steps to restrict Russia from participating in athletic competitions as a result of the country's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last week. That includes the IOC, FIFA and IIHF which all announced Monday that Russia would be restricted from competition effective immediately.
FIBA -- the international governing body for basketball -- has yet to release a statement on the situation.
"Russia's unjustified attack is not just an assault on Ukraine's sovereignty but democracy globally," the statement from Canada Basketball reads. "Sport is a privilege, not a right, and the recent reckless, aggressive actions of Russia cannot be overlooked and that also extends to the basketball court."
