Just one day after the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation issued a strong statement regarding the cases of Kalina Veneva and Maria Koleva and announced that the Management Board would discuss possible sanctions, the federation announced that Darina Naneva has been released from the women's national team camp due to medical reasons.
The middle blocker is out of the squad for the upcoming European Championship due to inflammation in the lower back area. After medical examinations and imaging diagnostics, the medical team recommended two weeks of rest and recovery for Naneva.
The BFV clarifies that after a conversation between the player, head coach Marcello Abbondanza, and the coaching staff, it was decided that she would be released from the training camp, as she would not be able to join the preparations for EuroVolley 2026 in time.
Naneva's case comes against the backdrop of the federation's official position regarding Kalina Veneva. AsVolleyWeek.bgfirst reported, the 17-year-old outside hitter will not participate in the European Championship due to accumulated fatigue, the need for recovery, and her upcoming transfer to the Italian Millennium (Brescia).
Veneva's family toldVolleyWeek.bgthat the federation had been informed in advance and that the decision was made with regard to the health and long-term development of the young volleyball player.
However, the BFV emphasized that the communication was solely informative, not consultative. According to the federation, a player or their family cannot independently make decisions related to medical assessment, treatment, and recovery without the opinion of the national team's medical staff.
This is precisely where the significant difference between the two cases lies. In Darina Naneva's case, examinations and imaging diagnostics were conducted, after which the medical staff, the player, and the coaching team reached a common decision. In Veneva's case, the federation claims it was presented with a decision that had already been made.
In its announcement on August 1, the BFV also provided information on the condition of Miroslava Paskova, who underwent successful surgery on her left knee after Bulgaria's participation in the Volleyball Nations League ended.
The federation specifically emphasizes that Paskova remained available to the team until the very end and played in the VNL matches despite health problems. The national team player also visited the team's hotel to support her teammates before the European Championship.
The wording in the BFV's announcement will inevitably raise new questions about the approach to individual cases. On the one hand, the federation insists on uniform rules and procedures. On the other hand, every injury, recovery, and decision regarding a player's health has its specificities.
The BFV Management Board is yet to review the cases of Kalina Veneva and Maria Koleva and decide whether sanctions will be imposed.
Darina Naneva is among the volleyball players who won the U18 European title in 2024 and the U19 World title in 2025. Her absence is another serious personnel problem for Marcello Abbondanza before EuroVolley 2026.
Bulgaria will play in Group B in Brno against the Czech Republic, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece, and Austria.