France's INSEP expels five teenage basketball players over violence

The Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance (INSEP) confirmed the expulsions on Friday, citing physical violence among the young athletes as the reason for the action. The five players, all teenagers, were residents at the institute's Paris boarding facility.

While details of the specific incidents remain limited, the expulsions underscore INSEP's commitment to maintaining strict discipline and standards of conduct among its elite athlete cohort. The institute has long been considered a crucial pipeline for developing France's next generation of sports talent across multiple disciplines.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by elite sports academies in managing the behaviour and welfare of young athletes in residential settings. INSEP, which attracts some of France's most promising teenage competitors, maintains rigorous protocols for both athletic development and conduct expectations.

The expulsions follow a period of increased scrutiny on safeguarding practices within sporting institutions across Europe. INSEP has not indicated whether the incident involves any investigations by external authorities.