Volleyball history has had some controversies about gender - Photo: PS
FIVB has not responded to Vietnam's complaint.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online on August 20, a leader of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) said that VFV had responded to FIVB twice. One time was a complaint about a Vietnamese athlete who was deemed ineligible by VFV to participate in the 2025 U21 World Championship, leading to FIVB changing the competition results of U21 Vietnam. However, FIVB only said in general that the Vietnamese athlete was not eligible to compete in the women's tournament through a test.
To date, FIVB has not responded to this official complaint from VFV. It is known that the U21 Vietnam team athletes are tested for a gender-related index to determine whether they are eligible to participate in the women's tournament. According to VFV, only Vietnamese athletes have to do this test, and athletes from other countries do not have to do it.
For the second time, VFV emailed FIVB requesting to provide VFV with FIVB's specific regulations for athletes participating in the 2025 World Volleyball Championship, which will take place from August 22 in Thailand. What conditions must athletes comply with, what tests must be done, and what parameters must they meet to be eligible to participate? With specific regulations, VFV will be able to prepare athletes to meet the requirements set by FIVB, without being passive or disadvantaged.
This leader shared: "We sent an email to FIVB to ask what they require related to athletes participating in the World Championship, from there the federation can prepare best. They responded briefly but did not clearly state what the athletes had to check. However, FIVB affirmed that they have the right to request checks without prior notice to member federations."
FIVB rules are vague.
VFV leaders said that the U21 Vietnamese athlete had previously been tested for a gene-related sample. However, FIVB did not announce the specific results and only said that she was not qualified to compete in the women's tournament.
The FIVB's move is puzzling because their Sports Regulations are very vague about gender testing.
Specifically, this is a document that contains regulations on whether an athlete (or team) is eligible or not, including section 3.2 that mentions the issue of eligible gender. FIVB also established a department called the Gender Verification Committee.
However, the FIVB does not have any provision for random gender testing at international tournaments. The only regulation the world volleyball governing body has is that they "have full authority to handle all issues and disputes related to the eligibility of athletes".
Previously, the FIVB had almost no precedent for gender testing at international tournaments. This is a highly controversial issue in the sports world, with a history of controversy spanning decades.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics have been the two sports bodies that have most aggressively pursued gender testing. But after several controversial reforms, the IOC has now given the power to test gender to sports federations.
World Athletics recently introduced a new rule requiring all female athletes to undergo a single SRY (male sex-determining gene) test, via a dried blood sample or cheek swab. If SRY is found to be positive, the athlete will be disqualified from the female category.
However, the FIVB has yet to make a similar announcement. Mr. Somporn Chaibangyang - President of the Volleyball Federation of Thailand recently said that the FIVB has "not really paid attention to this issue, and is currently only considering gender testing".
Bich Tuyen (10) withdrew from the 2025 World Championship because she felt FIVB was not fair and did not respect athletes - Photo: TTO
Lack of transparency and fairness
VFV leaders said: Even in doping tests, national sports federations and athletes are informed about banned substances; informed about the type of tests they must perform to get those results. However, FIVB has not issued any regulations on what athletes participating in volleyball tournaments organized by FIVB will have to be tested for, through what methods, and what specific standards.
Because there are no specific regulations, it causes many difficulties for athletes as well as member national federations. In case FIVB has tested, it must test everything. Designating an athlete of a certain country to do random tests creates suspicion and unfairness among participating countries.
Because of suspicions of unfairness and disrespect, athlete Bich Tuyen of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team withdrew from the 2025 World Championship. FIVB's actions hurt her and other athletes in similar situations.
"Whether an athlete is born male or female has been confirmed by the health authorities and the government based on their birth certificates and passports. When they grow up, the changes in their bodies are unknown to the athletes themselves and it is not their fault. Now, a sports organization like FIVB tests an index and says that the athlete is not qualified to participate in a tournament for men or women. Is it appropriate? If FIVB announces specific results, they will even be sued by athletes," a representative of the Vietnamese sports industry affirmed.
Regarding Bich Tuyen's withdrawal, VFV said it completely respects her decision. VFV leaders added: "That is a human right, an individual right, we cannot force or demand anything."
The VFV leader also shared the view that the athletes are not at fault. Some people are born with clearly female genitalia but carry male chromosomes. No one knows about that, and the whole world is still arguing fiercely about this. This person cited scientific studies that show that looking like a man does not necessarily mean having an advantage. In fact, science has not been able to accurately conclude this point of view.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vu-vdv-u21-bong-chuyen-nu-bi-cam-thi-dau-fivb-chua-phan-hoi-khieu-nai-cua-viet-nam-20250820154958234.htm
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