Beach Volleyball Stars Refuse to Play over Bikini Ban

When you’re playing volleyball at the beach, it’s pretty common for one to be in a bikini. Germany’s beach volleyball stars Karla Borger and Julia Sude have said they will boycott a tournament in Qatar next month because it was “the only country” where players were forbidden from wearing bikinis on court.

“We are there to do our job, but are being prevented from wearing our work clothes,” Borger told radio station Deutschlandfunk on Sunday.

“This is really the only country and the only tournament where a government tells us how to do our job — we are criticizing that.”

Germany's beach volleyball stars Karla Borger and Julia Sude have said they will boycott a tournament in Qatar next month because it was "the only country" where players were forbidden from wearing bikinis on court.https://t.co/VOArmaYuLF

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) February 23, 2021

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The Qatar volleyball association reacted to the news by explaining they were “committed to ensuring that all athletes are made to feel welcome and comfortable at next month’s event.”

Qatar is hosting the upcoming FIVB World Tour event but strict rules about on-court clothing have led to world championships silver medallist Borger and her doubles partner Sude shunning the event.

They said all athletes were free to compete in their international uniforms.

“We would like to make clear that we are not making any demand on what athletes should wear at the event,” a statement insisted.

Maybe Qatar isn’t the ideal locale for a Beach Volleyball tourney?

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