Peter Fitzsimons exposes glaring detail in Liz Cambage statement

Veteran sports journalist and former Wallabies star Peter Fitzsimons has identified a glaring issue in Liz Cambage's statement about withdrawing from the Olympic Games.

The women's basketball superstar announced her bombshell decision to pull out of Australia's Olympic Games campaign on Friday, citing mental health and anxiety concerns about being isolated in a bubble in the Japanese capital.

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Cambage's statement came while Basketball Australia was investigating a "physical altercation" she was involved in during one of the Opals' warm-up games against Nigeria.

NBA legend Andrew Bogut - who has regularly engaged in social media feuds with Cambage in the past - appeared to question the Opals star's mental health explanation after responding to a scathing tweet from former South East Melbourne Phoenix assistant coach Ian Stacker.

“Mental health is a significant issue for our community. Every time a sports star or celebrity uses ‘mental health’ as an excuse for deplorable behaviour totally frustrates those dealing with real issues.”

Bogut retweeted the post with the caption: “Amen.”

Cambage stressed that her decision to pull out of the Olympics was not taken lightly and had been a long time coming after as anxiety around the bubble situation in Tokyo grew stronger.

"I’ve been having breakdowns in the carpark at Whole Foods. Non-stop panic attacks. Hyperventilating. At the thought of going into one of the most high-pressure situations, that is already in a bubble. With no fans, no friends. I’ve never played without fans, Cambage said in a heartfelt video on Instagram.

It was two key words in that statement that left FitzSimons particularly baffled, with the outspoken sports commentator questioning why someone who's been a mainstay in Australian basketball for years now, would claim to have "no friends".

“One thing that surprises me is where she says, ‘on the road, no family, no friends’. It surprises me that in an international team, all those women that she’s been playing with must have come up through the ranks with her in Australian basketball,” he said on Channel 9’s Sport Sunday.

“It surprises me she doesn’t have very close friends in the team.”

Cambage confirms 'physical altercation'

As well as the "physical altercation" which Cambage has since admitted to, she was also accused of breaking team protocol by going out partying with friends in Las Vegas, where she plays with the Aces in the WNBA.

In her lengthy video statement on Instagram, the basketball star said she was "annoyed" at that story and slammed the "lies" that had been reported about her.

“I’m pretty annoyed at all the fake news and the lies I’m seeing floating around in news articles and being shown and being asked about," she said.

“I just want to say this decision was coming and I’m happy I finally made it on my own terms. It’s sad that news got leaked yesterday that I didn’t even know about.

“Yeah, things got heated in the Nigeria game. There was a physical altercation and there were words exchanged but I’m hearing things that aren’t true at all, flying around from people in Australia and America which is crazy.

“Everything that happened and everything that was said is on film. I know what happened and I do not appreciate the lies and people constantly trying to tear me down. Hating on me won’t bring you love, at all.

“But hey, I’ve been trapped in this room, with no view, with nothing, for a week. Of course I’m going to lose my mind in here, are you serious?

“I’m seeing reports I went out partying. S***. I wish I did! I know some of the people in Vegas have been having a really good time this week. But I’ve been in here, bro. I’ve been in here. And the only time I left this goddamn bubble was for the All-Star game.

“I don’t appreciate the lies. Don’t you ever get sick of lying on my name. Don’t you have anything else better to talk about?

with agencies

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