Madrid (AFP) – Spanish basketball star Marc Gasol will miss the Olympics in Rio next month because his injured right foot has not healed in time, the Spanish Basketball Federation said Thursday.
The 31-year-old Memphis Grizzlies centre broke his right foot in February and underwent surgery to repair it. He missed the rest of the season due to the injury.
In a statement the federation said that “after months of intense work to recover”, Gasol “had not achieved the required medical discharge to make his goal (of going to Rio) a reality, so he will not be able to take part in the Olympic Games.”
Despite the injury, Spain’s basketball coach Sergio Scariolo had included Gasol on his preliminary Olympic roster along with his older brother Pau.
Scariolo said Saturday he had “a bit of hope” that Marc, one of Spain’s most decorated players, would be ready for the Olympics.
Spain’s basketball team will play a friendly match against Lithuania later on Thursday in the southern city of Malaga to prepare for the Olympics.
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