BRA - Arthur out with injury

SAO PAULO (FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazil have suffered a second injury blow in the space of 72 hours in their FIBA Americas Championship preparations in Sao Paulo.

Following on from the loss of Diego da Silva, Arthur Belchior has now been forced to leave camp with a thigh problem.

Arthur was hurt during training on Thursday and tests have found a tear in his right thigh muscle.

"The scans have found a tear in the right thigh and the typical recovery time for something like this is two or three weeks," said team doctor Danilo Incerti.

Although that timetable would mean Arthur would be healthy again in time for the start of the tournament on August 30, he will miss too much of the preparations.

"I am sad to leave the group, but every athlete suffers something like this from time to time," Arthur said. "I will undertake the necessary program to recovery, and hope to be back in the national team next time around.

"The team is handling its work very seriously and I'm sure they will arrive at the tournament in full strength. I will be rooting hard for the team and I am sure we can earn Olympic qualification."

FIBA