Basketball: Deng defends his Olympic absence

Thursday 18 August 2011 00:00 BST
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Luol Deng, the Sudan-born Chicago Bulls star, was raised in London and is returning to play for Britain in the Olympic basketball test event this week
Luol Deng, the Sudan-born Chicago Bulls star, was raised in London and is returning to play for Britain in the Olympic basketball test event this week (AP)

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Luol Deng, the absent star of Great Britain's team during the opening of the Olympic arena in London – they lost 82-60 to France on Tuesday – has responded to the irritation of GB Basketball officials by reiterating that he was at a long-scheduled youth training camp in Loughborough.

Deng, who plays for the Chicago Bulls, wrote on his Twitter account yesterday: "4 those that keep asking why I'm not at the LND Invitational with team GB its cause I'm at my Bball camp with the kids. I play on saturday."

Great Britain play two games this weekend.

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