Who bears the administrative costs during an eligibility inquiry?

The national member federation is responsible for bearing the administrative costs during an eligibility inquiry. This is because the national member federations are the primary entities that govern basketball activities within their respective countries, and they play a crucial role in ensuring that players meet the eligibility requirements set forth by FIBA.

When an inquiry is initiated regarding a player's eligibility, it typically involves various administrative processes, including the collection of documents, communication between different parties, and possibly legal consultations. Since the federations are tasked with overseeing compliance with FIBA regulations and ensuring that their players are eligible to compete, it falls on them to absorb the costs associated with these inquiries. This includes not only processing the inquiries but also any additional costs involved in gathering information and presenting cases to FIBA if necessary.

In contrast, other entities like the player in question, championship organizers, or the FIBA association are not primarily responsible for these administrative costs, as their roles are different within the context of player eligibility and competition management.