National women's volleyball team head coach Sofwan Ahmed suspended for five years

The head coach of the National Women's Volleyball Team, Sofwan Ahmed, has been suspended for five years following allegations that he attempted to engage in sexual misconduct by blackmailing and intimidating a female player.

To investigate Sofwan's case, the Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) established an ad-hoc commission and subsequently removed him from his position with the national volleyball team.

Based on the ad-hoc commission's report, the VAM Executive Committee (ExCo) decided to suspend him from all volleyball-related activities.

The VAM's statement, sent to the media to announce the ExCo's decision regarding the action taken against Sofwan, who is also an ExCo member, did not mention his name. The statement referred to him only as "the accused party."

The statement indicated that VAM would propose his removal from the ExCo membership at the earliest possible Congress. Furthermore, the VAM statement noted that measures have been taken to prohibit him from holding any position on any VAM committee for five years.

The Association also stated that he would be barred from serving as an official for any club in VAM tournaments for five years. Even in a tournament organized by a private entity, VAM said Sofwan cannot hold any role if the tournament utilizes VAM referees and technical officials.

He has already lost his position as the National Women's Team coach. Following his temporary suspension, VAM appointed volleyball legend Mohamed Nadheem as the coach.

VAM stated that they will implement the recommendations made by the ad-hoc commission, which advised the Association to take necessary measures through the entire system to combat issues of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.