The Russian Volleyball Federation (VFV) issued a statement on the exclusion of its players, clubs, and national teams from international competitions.
The VFV expressed disappointment and disagreement with the decisions taken by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) to move international competitions from Russia and to exclude all Russian athletes and clubs from participating in official competitions held under the auspices of these organizations.
“These decisions are direct discrimination based on nationality, contradict the regulatory documents of these organizations themselves, and are unacceptable in the modern sports community. We’re very sorry that organizations that should remain out of politics and unite athletes from different countries succumbed to provocations and with one decision crossed out the good relations maintained for decades with the VFV,” the governing body of Russia’s volleyball published.
The VFV added that these decisions are contrary to the spirit of the sport, threaten the integrity of world volleyball, and hinder its development for many years to come, stressing that it reserves the right to address various authorized bodies and commissions to defend the rights of Russian players and volleyball.
