The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has formally suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) following an earlier sanction imposed by the sport’s international governing body, deepening uncertainty over the leadership of volleyball in the country.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the decision Wednesday after an executive board meeting in which members unanimously approved the suspension of the national federation.

Tolentino said the move was automatic, in line with the POC’s policy to enforce sanctions handed down by international federations on their respective national sports associations.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) suspended the PNVF on May 29 over governance issues and alleged violations of its ethics code.

In a related development, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has halted all funding support for the PNVF, citing concerns over governance and noncompliance with agency regulations.

The POC also disclosed that several members of the PNVF board have withdrawn their support for the federation, expressing a loss of confidence in the leadership of PNVF president Anthony “Tonyboy” Liao.

Liao has opposed the sanctions and actions taken against the federation, maintaining that he is prepared to cooperate with the appropriate institutions to resolve the issues.

Tolentino further said the most recent PNVF elections are not considered valid, as they were conducted without prior notice to the POC and without an official observer from the committee.

The POC is awaiting the FIVB’s decision regarding an ad hoc committee tasked with temporarily overseeing volleyball operations while the PNVF remains suspended.

With the national federation sidelined, the governance of volleyball in the Philippines remains uncertain as stakeholders look for steps to restore order and rebuild confidence in the organization.