The era of “Refrigerator-Freezer” in Vietnamese volleyball is over as authorities tighten gender verification and immediately test any suspicious cases after a scandal involving failed gender tests led to match forfeits.
On 12 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) announced new guidelines on gender verification for female athletes. From the 2026 season onward, VFV will use chromosome testing to verify female athletes’ eligibility in all national competitions if deemed necessary.
Chromosome testing will use PCR SRY gene analysis to detect the Y chromosome, which is considered the biological male marker, while biological females do not have the Y chromosome.
However, initial verification of athlete eligibility is the responsibility of each club entering the competition. VFV will intervene only if there is suspicion, a formal request, or a specific complaint. The verification procedure is as follows:
Deposit: Teams filing a complaint must post a deposit of 10 million dong (approximately 14,000 baht), refundable if testing proves the athlete is genetically female.
Testing location: Once approved, the athlete will be tested at an accredited medical facility near the competition venue or through a third party to ensure privacy.
Costs: VFV will cover basic testing fees. Local organizing committees must facilitate transportation of athletes and team representatives to the testing site or arrange for specialists to visit the athletes in a prepared room.
Data management: Samples and related documents will be secured and managed confidentially by VFV.
While awaiting results, athletes and clubs must fully cooperate. VFV permits athletes to compete normally during this period.
If no Y chromosome is found, the matter is closed. If a Y chromosome is detected, results will be reported to the competition oversight committee chairman and VFV, who will inform the athlete and club and decide on competition eligibility.
This measure follows Vietnam’s forfeiture of four matches by 0-3 scores at the U21 World Championship in Indonesia after one athlete failed gender verification. That incident prompted VFV to strengthen rules to align with AVC and FIVB standards.
Meanwhile, two notable players previously under scrutiny, “Refrigerator” Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and “Freezer” Dang Thi Hong, were not registered for this season. Refrigerator has moved into coaching, while Freezer retired from the national team at just 20 years old to pursue university studies.