Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Tifanny Abreu barred from Brazil's women's volleyball Superliga
Tifanny Abreu can no longer play in the Superliga after sports justice upheld the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation's eligibility rule and a court injunction allowing her to play was overturned.
The 41-year-old transgender player represents Osasco, a club in Brazil's top women's volleyball competition, and has played in the league since 2017.
The federation's rule limits the women's category to athletes it defines as biologically female, requiring a negative test for the SRY gene, which is associated with male sexual development.
Before the injunction was overturned, Abreu played for Osasco in the Supercopa and the team's Superliga opener.
The ruling leaves her unable to play in the Superliga for now, though Osasco is scheduled to face Mackenzie in its next league match.
Her case still awaits a final decision in the ordinary courts, and her representatives plan to seek reconsideration of an injunction.
Brazil’s sports justice tribunal unanimously upheld the volleyball federation’s decision barring Tifanny Abreu from this season’s women’s Superliga.
The ruling revoked an injunction that had allowed the Osasco player to compete in events organized by the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV).
Abreu had played in Osasco’s Supercopa match against Praia Clube and its Superliga opener against Brasília while the injunction was in force.
The CBV’s eligibility policy, announced in August, requires players in the women’s category to present a negative test for the SRY gene.
The case is not over, as it is still due for a final review in the ordinary courts.
- Who
- Tifanny Abreu, a 41-year-old volleyball player with Osasco, is affected by the decision.
- What
- Brazil’s sports justice tribunal upheld the CBV decision barring her from this season’s women’s Superliga.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The case concerns Brazil’s women’s Superliga and competitions organized by the CBV.
- Why
- The CBV’s eligibility policy requires players in the women’s category to have a negative test for the SRY gene.
Tifanny Abreu
Brazilian Volleyball Confederation
Eligibility
Tifanny Abreu
Abreu’s representatives are seeking to restore her permission to play.
Brazilian Volleyball Confederation
The CBV says its general eligibility policy applies equally to all athletes and follows criteria of international sports bodies.
Participation
Tifanny Abreu
Abreu previously obtained an injunction allowing her to compete in CBV events.
Brazilian Volleyball Confederation
The CBV’s policy bars her from this season’s women’s Superliga.
The CBV announced its eligibility policy for the women’s category.
Abreu obtained an injunction from the Rio de Janeiro court allowing her to compete in CBV events.
Abreu played in Osasco’s Supercopa match against Praia Clube and its Superliga opener against Brasília.
The sports justice tribunal unanimously upheld the CBV decision, revoking the injunction.
- Player
- Tifanny Abreu, 41
- Club
- Osasco
- Decision
- Unanimous ruling by Brazil’s sports justice tribunal
- Policy announced
- August 2026
- Eligibility test
- Negative result for the SRY gene
3 sources
What people are saying
The CBV reaffirms that it fully complied with the previous decision while it was in force, and will continue to comply with all determinations of the judiciary and sports justice.
The entity maintains its commitment to the respect and dignity of all athletes.
Autonomy is not authorization for arbitrariness, but neither can it be emptied by judicial substitution of legitimately established technical-sporting criteria.