Dinamo volleyball player Nayara Ferreira has been temporarily suspended. The Albanian Volleyball Federation has requested a gender test from the Brazilian.
An unprecedented situation in Albania, which seems to have caught even the Dinamo club by surprise.
In a reaction on social media, the capital club confirms the Federation's decision, while emphasizing that the athlete's dignity is being affected.
"We are aware of recent media publications referring to the decision of the Albanian Volleyball Federation to suspend one of our team's players and request a gender determination test."
For transparency towards public opinion, we confirm that the information is true.
The Dinamo Club is and remains fully committed to implementing the rules and standards of sport, in respect of the principles of fair play and human dignity.
The player in question is an athlete with an official FIVB license, with a 15-year international career in several countries around the world, including those of the European Union.
The decision of the Albanian Football Association, which came as a complete surprise to our club, was not accompanied by any clarification on the concrete reasons or regulatory basis that justifies such an unusual request, that is, on the factual basis or evidence that could justify such a sensitive intervention against an athlete.
In the absence of any concrete elements or procedures defined in the regulatory acts, the requirement to undergo such a test – which directly affects the personal dignity and integrity of the players – leaves room for much uncertainty on how this issue has been handled and on the standards that should be respected in modern sport, but also increases the need for reflection on how cases should be handled in the future.
Despite this, Dinamo Club has shown full institutional commitment to cooperate with the Albanian Football Association and to handle the case in a correct and measured manner.
The case undoubtedly has a high human and professional sensitivity, as it affects the dignity of an athlete who has represented international sport for many years.
In sports, as in any other field, transparency, fairness, and respect for the individual are the foundation of any success.
Dinamo will continue to defend these values, standing on the side of justice, sport and human dignity.
"Sport should unite, not humiliate. We will continue to believe in the values that make volleyball and every sport a fair playing field ," the response reads.