The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) with immediate effect, citing serious governance concerns and multiple alleged violations of the FIVB Code of Ethics currently under investigation by its independent Ethics Panel.
The decision, announced in a statement on the organization’s website on Friday, also includes the appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee to temporarily oversee the affairs of Philippine volleyball as the sport’s world governing body works toward restoring stability and proper governance within the federation.
Lack of Discipline, Multiple Violations
According to the FIVB, the suspension was imposed under Article 13.1.1 of its Disciplinary Regulations despite what it described as continued diplomatic efforts to find a sustainable path forward for volleyball in the Philippines.
The world governing body said the move was necessary to safeguard the sport, prioritize athletes, and protect long‑term development initiatives in the country.
“Despite continued diplomatic efforts by the FIVB to find a sustainable path forward for Philippine volleyball, the suspension was deemed necessary to safeguard the sport, ensure athletes are prioritized, and uphold the long‑term development commitments made for volleyball in the Philippines,” the FIVB said in a statement.
The suspension comes amid ongoing investigations by the independent FIVB Ethics Panel into multiple purported violations of the FIVB Code of Ethics.
FIVB-Appointed Ad Hoc Committee Set to Take Over
To oversee operations during the suspension, the FIVB appointed a five‑member Ad Hoc Committee headed by FIVB Executive Committee member Hila Asanuma. Joining her are Mathieu Mériaux, Stephen Bock, Hitesh Malhotra, and Alexa Dabao.
The committee will temporarily manage the affairs of Philippine volleyball in accordance with Article 1.9.1 of the FIVB General Regulations.
Uncharted Waters for PNVF But With Clear Path Forward
Among its immediate priorities are ensuring the participation of Philippine national teams in upcoming international competitions and guaranteeing the successful staging of the upcoming Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Women’s stop in the Philippines in June 2026.
The FIVB also noted that a “clear and constructive path” has been established for the PNVF’s eventual return to full standing.
The suspension casts uncertainty over the leadership of Philippine volleyball, but the FIVB emphasized that it remains committed to protecting the sport’s integrity and supporting its continued growth in the country.
“The FIVB remains fully committed to protecting the integrity of Philippine volleyball at all levels and supporting its sustainable long‑term growth,” the statement read.
Earlier, Spin.ph had already reported that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) froze all funding support for the PNVF pending the resolution of several concerns raised before its board.
Alas Pilipinas at the Crosshairs?
Among the issues cited by the PSC was the “apparent absence of legitimate national team participation” in the upcoming 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup despite government support for the federation’s programs.
The concern surfaced after several key Alas Pilipinas players, including Jia De Guzman, Bella Belen, Shaina Nitura, and Angel Canino, withdrew from national team duty.
The PSC also flagged alleged operational misalignment among the PNVF, PSC, and local organizing committees in staging volleyball events, as well as concerns about coordination with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC). In addition, the agency pointed to an alleged breach of contractual obligations involving logo visibility and branding commitments during the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour event held in Nuvali.
As a result, the PSC suspended support for the federation and said the identified issues must be addressed before any further action involving upcoming AVC and Volleyball Nations League events, as well as other federation‑led activities.
PNVF president Tony Boi Liao has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.
