VIETNAM power hitter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen backed out from the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Thailand.
READ: Vietnam puts stunning end to Thailand's six-year SEA V.League run
Tuyen, who has long been clouded by gender-related inquiries, submitted a withdrawal request to the Volleyball Federation of Vietnam (VFV) three days before the global conclave slated from Aug. 22 to Sep. 8.
She cited and lamented the FIVB’s undisclosed procedural changes that forced her hand into taking her name off Vietnam’s national team roster.
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“The reason I made this decision was not because of the lack of desire to play, but because of the new requirements from the World Volleyball Federation (FIVB) about the conditions of athletes playing,” Tuyen said.
“For me, sport is not just about competition but also about respect and fairness. I feel that these regulations lack transparency, lack of fairness needed for athletes, and the belief that every athlete deserves to compete in a respectful and equal environment.”
“In order to protect my integrity and avoid unnecessary risks to the team, I decided to withdraw.”
The VFV added that ‘family and personal reasons’ also contributed to Tuyen’s decision to forgo her national team spot.
Her last tour of duty before the withdrawal was a 45-piece in Vietnam’s first regional title win over perennial champion Thailand in the 5th SEA V.League where she was named tournament MVP.
She won the same top individual plum in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup where Vietnam defeated Alas Pilipinas in the championship match.
It was made clear, however, that Tuyen has only decided to skip the World Championship and will remain part of the national team for future competitions.
“I will be spending this time to concentrate on training, getting ready for future tournaments. I believe that with the best preparation, the Vietnamese team will still play their best and achieve new successes.”
Dodging a potential double-whammy
Earlier this year, Vietnam’s under-21 team was placed in a similar position where two of its players in captain Dang Thi Hong and Nguyen Phoung Quynh were disqualified by the FIVB upon being tagged as ‘ineligible’ for the competition.
Chromosome tests were taken by the pair following the FIVB’s verdict, in which ‘male chromosomes’ were subsequently discovered as per multiple reports.
All of the Vietnam under-21 national team’s wins in the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship that featured Hong and Quynh were forfeited, those being against Canada, Indonesia and Serbia.
As per the FIVB, among possible sanctions for such cases also include a fine of CHF 30,000 (Swiss franc) for each ineligible player (~P2,127,484) and a possible suspension of the entire national federation and all of its leagues, teams, players and officials for up to two years.
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