Brazilian volleyball player Tifanny Abreu faces exclusion from domestic women's competitions after the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation introduced new eligibility rules based on biological sex.
The decision by the governing body affects the 41-year-old Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde opposite hitter, who became the first transgender female volleyball player in Brazil.
The Brazilian Volleyball Confederation, known as the CBV, implemented the policy for the upcoming Superliga season by adopting female athlete criteria established by the International Olympic Committee.
Player response and legal action
Abreu condemned the new policy in a statement published on her Instagram account, stating that the eligibility criteria attack the recognition and inclusion of transgender people in sport.
She said volleyball was her life and her job, accusing the CBV of taking away her love for the sport and the profession she had practiced for ten years in women's volleyball. She added that she did not start yesterday and that the measure affects her club, fans, sponsors, people inspired by her, and the rights of all transgender individuals.
Calling the ruling a major setback in the struggle for recognition and inclusion, Abreu vowed not to remain silent and confirmed she would take all possible legal measures to ensure her fight for visibility and participation was not in vain.
Club support and upcoming competitions
Her club, Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde, expressed surprise at the policy published on Friday, August 14, stating that the CBV drafted the rules without prior participation or consultation from the team.
The São Paulo-based club noted that Abreu has played for them since 2021, building a distinguished career on and off the court, and confirmed that its legal department is evaluating the regulations to determine its next steps.
The exclusion will take effect in mid-October 2026 with the start of Superliga A, Brazil's top-tier national volleyball league. Abreu remains eligible to play in the Paulista Championship, which operates under rules in place prior to the ruling.
Abreu previously experienced a similar exclusion in early 2026, when she was barred from competing in the South American Club Championship in Lima, Peru.
