New Delhi, March 20 The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has granted provisional recognition to the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), while raising concerns with the IOA about the delay in granting visas to athletes for an event held this month and the outstanding dues of over Rs three crore from private partners.
In three separate letters to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the FIVB has also formed a steering committee to "ensure institutional coordination between the FIVB, IOA, and the VFI interim leadership, while safeguarding the interests of athletes and ensuring the continuity of national team programmes and international participation."
The recognition to VFI has been granted for eight months, and the FIVB stated that it is being done "solely and exclusively to facilitate the release and utilization of government funding due to VFI for the preparation, training, and participation of Indian teams internationally."
The Steering Committee comprises IOA Executive Council member Rohit Rajpal, CEO Raghuram Iyer, FIVB General Sports Director Steve Tutton, FIVB Head of Legal Affairs and General Counsel Stephen Bock, and Hitesh Malhotra.
Tutton, in a separate letter, has also complained about visa issues faced by unspecified athletes who competed in a Beach Pro Tour competition in Bhubaneswar.
Twenty-seven men's teams and 22 women's teams from 23 different countries participated in the Bhubaneswar Challenge.
Tutton has also alleged that the FIVB has not yet been paid its dues, which amount to over Rs three crore, for the Pro Tour events held in 2023 and 2024 in Goa and Chennai respectively, in partnership with private clubs.
"It is too early to say anything. The IOA will need to study all the contracts, agreements, applications, etc. to understand the true picture," an IOA official told