BEIJING — A top official of China's national basketball team says no decision has been made as to whether Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will play in an Olympic warm-up tournament next month.

"We'll discuss it when Yao Ming gets back to China," Bai Xilin, team manager of China's national team, said today. "He'll be back before the end of this month."

Newspaper reports around China suggested Yao had been cleared to play in the July 17-20 Stankovic Cup at Hangzhou, China, which features Iran, China, Russia and Angola.

China opens the Olympic tournament against the United States in one of the most anticipated events of the games.

The 7-foot-6 Yao had surgery on his left foot after suffering a stress fracture on Feb. 27.

Agent John Huizinga said Yao had an examination Monday that went well, but also disputed reports that his client would play in the Stankovic Cup.

"Everything is going very well," Huizinga was quoted as saying Monday in a story on the Houston Chronicle's Web site. "If he is cleared, he might have a chance to play, but it is much too early to talk about that schedule now."

The 27-year-old Yao averaged 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds for the Rockets this season before being sidelined with the stress fracture.

Yao said he will not leave for China until the Rockets clear him to practice.

A team spokesman was quoted by the Houston newspaper as saying that Yao is scheduled to meet with team doctors at the end of the month.

"The checkups have been very good," Huizinga said. "But it's much too early for him to be cleared."