Basketball star defies EU state’s government to play in Russia
Latvian basketball star Janis Timma has decided to take part in a tournament in Russia despite a wave of backlash in his home country. The move also means that he will likely be banned from playing for the Latvian national team in the future, as Riga has taken drastic steps to cut off ties with Moscow.
Throughout his career, Timma has played for numerous clubs, including in Latvia, Russia, Spain, Türkiye, and the US. The 32-year-old has also represented the Latvian national basketball team and played for his home country earlier this year during the qualification tournament of the Paris Olympic Games.
Earlier this week, Timma announced that he will take part in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Russia for Alikson Team and that he has already played his first game as part of the club. The Media Basket tournament involves teams primarily consisting of bloggers, actors, musicians, and other celebrities, and is being held at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The Latvian athlete’s decision was met with backlash back home, with some accusing him of supporting an “aggressor country.” Riga has been a staunch supporter of Kiev in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Timma’s participation in the tournament has also been found to be in violation of the country's Sports Law, which was amended in 2022 to prevent Latvian citizens from taking part in any competitions held in Russia or Belarus.
“Athletes and sports workers who do not comply with the prohibition... may not be included in the national team, as well as sports training and they may not receive state or local government budget funds to cover competition expenses,” the Latvian Sports Law reads. Riga has also banned athletes from competing against Russian or Belarusian teams at international events such as the Olympics.
Responding to the backlash, Timma called his detractors “useless” and said he “completely doesn’t care” about what they say about him, and that he does not regret his decision. He urged his critics to leave his family alone and keep them out of the situation.
“It’s my decision and I see nothing wrong with it. I play basketball and live my life,” Timma wrote on social media.
