FIVB suspends Indian Volleyball body

FIVB, the international governing body for volleyball has revoked the provisional recognition given to the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI).

In a press statement issued by the FIVB said that in accordance with Articles 1.5.3 and 1.9.1 of the FIVB General Regulations, the FIVB Board of Administration has determined that the legal and administrative requirements established by the FIVB have not been respected by the interim leadership of the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI).

As such, the VFI’s provisional recognition has been revoked with immediate effect, granting temporary administrative competence to a Steering Committee – comprising representatives from the FIVB and the Indian Olympic Association – to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of volleyball activities in India.

The welfare and support of athletes remains the FIVB’s top priority, and to this end, the Steering Committee has been mandated to ensure continuity, stability and proper governance during this transitional period. Their responsibility spans the following court-mandated areas: establishment of the Athletes’ Commission; conduct of State Association elections, and the alignment of the VFI Constitution with applicable legal and governance frameworks.

Further, the Steering Committee will work to implement a transparent, merit-based national team selection, coordinate upcoming international and national competitions, and provide technical and high-performance support through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, including the deployment of international coaching expertise.

Under this Programme, the FIVB will contribute USD 258,000 in 2026 toward athlete support and national team development across both genders and disciplines in India, reaffirming its commitment to a stronger, more transparent future for Indian volleyball.

The FIBA decision comes in the wake of the revelations by national players Anand K and John Joseph, who had walked out of the training camp. The duo criticized the competence of coaches and the removal of coach Dragan Mihailovic.