SEAF reject appeal for gender verification of Indonesian volleyball player
The SEA Games Federation (SEAF) medical committee has rejected an appeal by the Philippines to subject Indonesian volleyball player Aprilia Santini Manganang to a gender verification test.
On Tuesday (June 9) Philippines coach Roger Goyareb said Manganang's power on the court was "like putting a male in the female division", prompting his country's contingent to lodge an official protest.
However, medical documents provided by Indonesia have proven sufficient for SEAF doctors to allow the 23-year-old to continue playing.
A statement from the Singapore Southeast Asian Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) read: "Singsoc has been informed by the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAF) Medical committee that they have reviewed the documents submitted by the Indonesian volleyball team and that the appeal has since been rejected.
"Singsoc also understands that Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, Technical Delegate for the volleyball team has been informed and has agreed to the decision.
"Both teams from Indonesia and the Philippines have been informed."
The controversy appeared to have no effect on Indonesia's volleyball players, as they notched a straight-set 25-22, 25-20, 25-14 victory over the Philippines in the Pool B volleyball match on Wednesday afternoon (June 10) at the OCBC Arena.
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