FIBA ‘removes’ ban on headgear

Madrid: International basketball's governing body said that players will be allowed to wear religious head coverings, such as hijabs or turbans, on a trial basis in some competitions.

FIBA's central board met over the weekend at the men's world cup and voted to allow a two-year testing phase that would let players wear head coverings.

Previous FIBA rules only allowed a player to wear a 5-centimeter headband to control hair and sweat. That drew objections that the group was discriminating against Muslim and Sikh players, who wear head coverings for religious reasons.

"We welcome this policy change by FIBA because it allows Muslims, Sikhs and others who wear religious head coverings to take part in the sport that they love while maintaining their beliefs," said the Council on American-Islamic Relations National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

"FIBA should be congratulated for responding positively to all those who sought reasonable religious accommodation for athletes of all faiths."

Indira Kaljo, a Bosnian-American Muslim who played college basketball at Tulane, was proud when she heard the news. She called it an "amazing first step."

Kaljo said she didn't wear a hijab in college or while playing professionally in Ireland, but after deciding to adhere more closely to her faith, she started to last year.

She wasn't able to play overseas because of the decision. She played with the head covering on in an American summer league and didn't want to return to

Europe if she wasn't allowed to wear it.

"I would love to go back and play in Bosnia now or some other country," she said.

During the trial, a national federation must petition.