The City Council of Londrina, in Paraná, urgently approved a request to prohibit the participation of Tifanny Abreu, a trans woman who plays for Osasco Voleibol Clube, in the Copa Brasil finals. The competition starts this Friday (27th) and has the Moringão gymnasium as its headquarters.
The project, presented by councilor Jéssica Ramos Moreno (PP), was voted on this Thursday (26). He had 12 votes in favor and four against.
In the application, Moreno cites the registration of Tifanny, 41, in the competition and asks that a 2024 municipal law be complied with prohibiting the “participation of athletes identified contrary to their biological sex at birth in sports teams and in competitions, events and disputes in sports” in Londrina.
Authored by itself, the text establishes as a penalty the immediate revocation of the event permit and payment of a fine of R$10,000 in case of non-compliance.
In a statement, the CBV (Brazilian Volleyball Confederation), responsible for the tournament, says it is adopting all applicable legal measures to guarantee the participation of athletes legally registered in the Copa Brasil. “The player Tifanny Abreu, from Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde, is eligible to participate according to the criteria established in the CBV trans athlete eligibility policy.”
The last few months have seen many prohibitions for Tifanny, the first transgender athlete to play and win the Superliga. In December, the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) vetoed his participation in the club world cup held at the Pacaembu gym, in São Paulo. Osasco won bronze.
This month, the athlete was also excluded from the South American club competition, in which her team finished runner-up.
The FIVB does not officially prohibit transgender participation in international events. However, registration depends on approval from the entity’s gender eligibility committee. Osasco seeks approval from the body for the player.
This Friday, the team led by Luizomar de Moura will face Sesc-Flamengo, led by Bernardinho, in the semifinals of the Copa Brasil, at 6:30 pm. This is the biggest national volleyball classic and has already decided 11 Superliga finals.
