Overview
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the refusal on character grounds, blocking Van de Velde from the Adelaide event starting November 14.
- The decision removes both Van de Velde and his partner Alexander Brouwer from the tournament, according to the Dutch volleyball association.
- Van de Velde was convicted in Britain in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old, served about 13 months of a four-year sentence, and later resumed international competition including the Paris Olympics.
- South Australia’s attorney-general urged a ban in a letter to the federal government, while a public petition gathered thousands of signatures.
- The Dutch federation said it supplied requested documents and accepts the outcome, as Volleyball Australia noted eligibility sits with the sport’s body but entry depends on federal visas.