Japan facing ban from international basketball

TOKYO - Japan is facing a potential ban from basketball's world governing body FIBA over a failure to merge its two top leagues.

FIBA has said it will suspend the Japan Basketball Association by the end of October if its mandate of a merger between the two leagues is not met.

The ban would prevent all of Japan's national teams from taking part in international competitions, including the Olympics.

JBA president Yasuhiko Fukatsu announced his resignation late Thursday, saying it will be difficult for the national body to come to a conclusion on the merger between the 22-team Basketball Japan League and the 13-team National Basketball League.

FIBA maintains that having two leagues violates its general statutes because the JBA doesn't have full control and governance of basketball in Japan.