France suspends 10 teenage basketball players in hazing probe

France's Institute of Sports Excellence (INSEP) has taken action against 10 teenage basketball players following allegations of hazing at its Paris residential campus. The suspensions were announced jointly by INSEP and the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) on Wednesday as both organisations initiated formal investigations into the matter.

The incidents under scrutiny involve physical violence perpetrated during hazing practices at the institute's boarding facility. Hazing, a long-standing concern in elite youth sports programmes, typically involves initiation rituals imposed by senior athletes on newer team members.

INSEP, which serves as France's primary training ground for Olympic and elite athletes, houses numerous sports disciplines at its centralised Paris campus. The basketball programme has been a prominent feature of the institute's operations.

The suspensions represent a significant disciplinary response from the federation and institute as they seek to address the allegations. Both organisations have committed to conducting thorough internal reviews to determine the full scope of the hazing incidents and identify any systemic issues within the programme.

The case underscores ongoing efforts across French sports institutions to combat hazing practices and protect young athletes in their care. Athletic organisations internationally have increasingly prioritised safeguarding measures in recent years amid growing awareness of hazing-related injuries and psychological harm.