FIBA Makes Exception to Let Sikhs Wear Turbans During Games

2014-07-24_basketballNEW DELHI, India—The FIBA (International Basketball Federation) has finally made the move to let Sikh players wear their turbans during basketball games for a two year test period. The BFI (Basketball Federation of India) said Wednesday that they are sure the FIBA will make this a permanent ruling in the near future.

“FIBA had allowed the Sikh players to wear turbans in its 3 on 3 games unless the turban presented any kind of safety threat to the other players on the court. After evaluation of the rule in 2015, the FIBA is still deciding whether the rule will become a permanent rule change post the 2016 Olympics, and we are sure that it will become permanent,” said BFI joint secretary Ashok Rangeen.

The FIBA had told Sikh player before a game and even during a game that if they wanted to play in the match up or continue to play they would have to remove their turban as they were supposedly a safety threat to other players. Players sometimes took their turbans off to continue to play in th games while some refused and sat out.

The FIBA has been debating this issue for sometime now and has finally determined that the turban wasn’t a safety threat to other players, deciding to test the ruling for two years. The BFI however are optimistic that the FIBA will make the ruling permanent soon.

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