AVP Suspends Two of Its Best

Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana, two of the top pro beach volleyball players, have been suspended indefinitely by the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals because they registered for an international tournament in Italy occurring at the same time as an AVP tournament in Muskegon, Mich.

Under the language of their AVP contract, Blanton and Fonoimoana must receive permission from the AVP to compete in tournaments sponsored by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the sport’s international governing body and an AVP adversary in years past.

The AVP said that Blanton and Fonoimoana, who currently hold the second and final U.S. spot for the Sydney Olympics, did not properly request the right to compete in the tournament in Italy, which runs from July 12-16 in Lignano.

The only way to earn points toward Olympic qualifying is by competing in FIVB tournaments.

“We want to go to the Olympics,” Fonoimoana said. “We’re dumbfounded at the whole thing.”

Bill Berger, chief executive officer of the AVP, said he tried to appropriate an equal number of FIVB tournaments for Olympic-minded AVP teams wishing to compete.

He said he informed Fonoimoana and Blanton in May of seven FIVB tournaments they were allowed to attend and did not receive a written protest when the one in Italy was not on the list.

“I gave them a schedule that I thought was beyond fair in giving them the chance to go to the Olympics and not compromising the AVP tour,” Berger said. “We are running a business where players have responsibilities. “

Three other AVP teams have registered for the tournament in Italy without incident, including Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson.

With seven FIVB tournaments remaining, Fonoimoana and Blanton lead Kiraly and Johnson by 84 points, a relatively slim margin, for the final U.S. spot.

Fonoimoana and Blanton have their share of support.

“What the AVP is doing is highly objectionable,” said Charlie Jackson, a member of the Board of Directors of USA Volleyball. “The organization is trying to manipulate the Olympic trials process, which should be decided by the players on the sand, not by an organization trying to exert its influence.

As part of their suspension, Fonoimoana, 31, and Blanton, 28, were not allowed to play in a Chicago tournament last week sponsored by the AVP. They arrive in Chicago today for an important FIVB tournament.

“Shouldn’t we be focusing on the Olympics and not have these little fiascoes?” Fonoimoana asked.

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Kiraly and Johnson advanced out of the first day of qualifying at Chicago. They won two matches and play two more today.