FIVB Update On Compliance with COVID-19 guidelines At VNL 2021

The FIVB can confirm that three players of the Argentina men's national volleyball team have been stripped of their Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2021 accreditations for non-compliance with quarantine regulations. The three players were part of the nine Argentina men’s national team players who were exceptionally authorised to join the VNL Bubble before the official replacement window.

The Argentina men’s national team arrived on 24 May with nine players, while six more team members arrived on 29 May and three more arrived on 3 June. This was due to exceptional medical circumstances related to COVID-19 which, a day prior to departure, prevented nine members of the team from travelling to Italy and entering the bubble during the official arrival date on 24 May 2021.

In accordance with the VNL 2021 COVID-19 Volleyball Safety Guidelines the nine players entering the bubble were subject to special measures including testing and a mandatory quarantine period in individual hotel rooms for 72 hours to ensure the safety of all VNL 2021 participants.

However, three of these players violated the mandatory quarantine by leaving their hotel rooms.

The players immediately underwent PCR tests which all came back negative. Although this permitted them to enter the VNL bubble, the decision was taken to withdraw the three players’ accreditations due to non-compliance with the compulsory quarantine requirements. The accreditations will be restored on 12 June.

As always, the FIVB’s top priority is protecting the health and wellbeing of our athletes, officials and staff, and there will be no compromise in this regard.

Note for Information:

The Volleyball Nations League 2021 is being held in a secure bubble in Rimini Italy from 25 May to 25 June for the women’s edition and 28 May to 27 June for the men’s edition.

All participants were required to produce negative PCR test results before their departure to Italy and a PCR test upon arrival before entering the bubble was mandatory. Further in-competition tests are also mandatory for all participants every four days, along with an exit PCR test before departure. In the event that a participant displays COVID-19 symptoms, additional tests shall be performed, as well as close contact tracking and specific medical care outside the bubble if required.