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Nampol Volleyball Club player Dokas Paulus Santos has accused the Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) of unfair treatment and procedural irregularities in handling his suspension, which has kept him out of action since March. Speaking to Desert FM last week, Santos said his frustration had reached “a point beyond words”, claiming he has exhausted all official channels without receiving a response. “I have to come to the media just to be heard, because I went through all the right channels, knocked on every door, but nothing happened,” he said. Santos was suspended earlier this year after a video he posted on social media showed him throwing away his bronze medal following Nampol’s third-place finish at the annual Bank Windhoek DOC Tournament at Swakopmund. In the clip, Santos expressed disappointment with the competition’s organisation and his team’s performance. The NVF later accused him of removing a sponsor’s logo from the medal and defying management, allegations he denies. “Did I make the video? Yes, I did. But how do you suspend someone without a hearing? There were no procedures, no investigation, no clear time frame,” he said. Santos claims he wrote multiple letters to NVF officials, including federation president Tobias Mwatelulo and secretary general Festus Hamukwaya, but has received no timely response. He said an independent committee assigned to investigate his case initially contacted him three months later with the wrong letter, and after he corrected the errors, they never followed up. The suspension kept him out of the MTC Volleyball National League (VNL) over the weekend, and he was not part of Nampol’s squad for the tournament. Santos, a key setter, said his absence has affected team performance and morale. “Replacing a setter disrupts everything. The team is not coping well,” he said, adding that disciplinary standards appear inconsistent across clubs. The NVF has confirmed that Santos was suspended on 12 May. The executive board reviewed the case and officially adopted the independent disciplinary committee’s recommendations on 20 October. The federation said Santos’ actions removing the sponsor’s sticker from his medal, disposing of the medal, and circulating a video with a disrespectful caption were inconsistent with the NVF code of conduct. It said the suspension was intended to protect the integrity of the sport and its sponsorships. According to the document, seen by The Namibian Sport, the disciplinary hearing outcome on 20 October stated that Santos would serve a six-month suspension from 12 May to 12 November, barring him from participating in any NVF-sanctioned activities. He has also been instructed to submit a formal written apology to both Bank Windhoek and the NVF within 10 working days. In addition, Santos is required to take part in a structured restorative dialogue with representatives from the NVF and Bank Windhoek, aimed at reflecting on the incident and reaffirming the values of respect and partnership. Following the suspension, he will enter a six-month probationary period, during which any further misconduct could result in an extended suspension or permanent exclusion from NVF activities. Santos retains the right to appeal the disciplinary outcome to the Namibia Sports Commission within five working days of receiving the letter. The NVF said: “These measures aim to provide a framework for reflection, learning, and restoring mutual respect between the player, the federation, and sponsors.”
