Medical Commission Discusses Evolution of Sports Medicine in Volleyball

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 24, 2018 - The FIVB Medical Commission met in Lausanne for an opportunity to discuss anti-doping procedures, sports medicine, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through volleyball and transgender athlete participation in the sport.

Medical Commission President Annie Peytavin hailed the meeting a success and commended the quality of the discussions during the day-long meeting.

“Today we made significant headway on a number of medical issues that stand to change the face of the sport of volleyball as we know it. Of particular interest was the issue of transgender participation. Following in depth discussion, the FIVB Medical Commission is committed to studying this issue in order to ensure that any medical decision made by the FIVB is based on the latest data and expertise in this area, so as to ensure a fair and equitable system of competition for all athletes.”

The Commission reiterated that the goal of the FIVB is to establish a system for the participation of athletes in FIVB competitions in both indoor and beach volleyball events that respects the athletes while also ensuring a level playing field on the court. For national club competitions the participation of transgender athletes is exclusively the responsibility of the respective national federations.

After the meeting, FIVB Secretary General Fernando Lima said:

“This is a complex issue, also being debated by other international federations. It is important to consider many angles when making such a critical decision, given the long-lasting impact on athletes. We also need to be mindful of equality within gender categories and we need to analyse this further with the help of medical, ethical and legal experts among others. 

“The FIVB is committed to transparency and good governance in all areas and it is vital that we integrate the knowledge and expertise of different FIVB Commissions. The FIVB will work closely with the IOC and ASOIF and we will do our best to be aligned on this sensitive issue.

The Commission meeting also provided an opportunity to review the main pillars of the FIVB’s anti-doping programme, including testing, examining Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs). Members also discussed the International Federation’s communication initiatives aimed at developing partnerships with national anti-doping organisations.