French Sports Minister responds to Batum: 'Heurtel left knowingly' / News - Basketnews.com

The French Sports Minister categorically denied the notion that Thomas Heurtel could be reinstated, saying that the administration has the athletes in mind and that Heurtel made the decision knowing the outcome that would happen.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

The French national team suffered a fiasco in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. After being considered one of the favorites, they got eliminated from title contention with one game left in the First Round. Following the collapse, a public discourse revolved around Thomas Heurtel.

Nicolas Batum

Position:SFAge:34Height:203 cmWeight:91 kgBirth place:Lisieux, FranceProfileNewsStatistics

The team's captain, Nicolas Batum, attacked the French Basketball Federation for not allowing Heurtel to represent the squad.

"We need everyone in Paris, the best conditions, everyone. I don't give a damn about politics, we need the best team possible in France," he told beIN Sports after the game against Latvia on Sunday, having Heurtel in mind.

Heurtel has been banned from playing for France due to his choice to play in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. Two days after Batum's statements, the French Minister for Sport and the Olympic & Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, responded.

"The decisions relating to Russia are not to be called into question. They are dictated by the will to protect the safety of [our] athletes, by the level of ethics and consistency that we have at the ministry, at Quai d'Orsay (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the federation," she said on RTL.

"Thomas Heurtel knew that if he left to play in Russia, he would not be selected, and he made this decision anyway," Oudea-Castera added. "This question [of having Huertel in the national team] did not come up in debriefs. We already have exceptional basketball players, consistently."

Paris will host the 2024 Olympic Games. Despite the early losses, France will play in the tournament as hosts.

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