An official from the National Basketball Administrative Centre has confirmed that Houston Rockets centre player Yao Ming will not compete in the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup, set to kick-off on July 28.

The administration will also allow Yao to miss a training tour of Europe after the Stankovic tournament since Yao's private doctor and the Rockets club have suggested that his shoulder injury is unlikely to hold up against the intensity of such competitions.

The absence means Yao will miss out on all the major summer preparations that have been arranged by the centre ahead of the Beijing Olympics next year.

The "small giant" had earlier withdrawn from a tournament in Las Vegas where the Chinese National Team clashed against several NBA sides.

Hu Jiashi, who is in charge of national team affairs, revealed that Yao will be able to participate in national team drills later in September.
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(CRI.cn July 19, 2007)