Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) president Joey Romasanta is writing to the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to seek clarification on the status of their association.
The move came after the FIVB, in a letter signed by General Director Fabio Azevedo, requested the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to organize an election to the country’s volleyball governing body before the World Congress next month.
“We want to know if this (election request) in effect withdraws the recognition of the LVPI from the FIVB,” Romasanta said.
The FIVB has given provisional recognition to LVPI since 2015 after complying with their conditions and requirements that include payments amounting to $80,000 incurred by its predecessor, the Philippine Volleyball Federation.
LVPI, which is also recognized by the POC, has also staged several FIVB-sanctioned tournaments including the 2015 Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship as part of compliance.
POC president Bambol Tolentino said Tuesday they are forming a committee to supervise the elections and asked all volleyball stakeholders to participate and cooperate.
“The FIVB wanted to recognize a legitimate volleyball NSA before its world congress. It’s urgent. Without a legitimate NSA, we cannot send national teams to FIVB-sanctioned tournaments abroad.”
The FIVB board of administration provisionally affiliated the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. based on the Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) recognition as the “sole governing body for volleyball in the country.”
The other group is the Philippine Volleyball Federation, which remains “suspended” in the FIVB since 2015.