06-10-2021, 11:49 AM
Serbian volleyball player suspended after making anti-Asian racist gesture during match against Thailand
![[Image: 210609151839-sanja-djurdjevic-exlarge-169.jpg]](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210609151839-sanja-djurdjevic-exlarge-169.jpg)
(CNN)A Serbian volleyball player has been suspended for two matches after she was caught on camera stretching her eyelids -- a racist gesture used to mock people with Asian heritage -- during an international competition between Serbia and Thailand.
Sanja Djurdjevic violated the sport's disciplinary rules on June 1 while competing in the match in Italy, according to a statement given Tuesday from the FIVB Disciplinary Panel Sub-Committee.
In addition to the suspension, the independent body, which is responsible for imposing disciplinary sanctions within FIVB competitions, fined Serbia's volleyball federation the equivalent of $22,000. According to the panel, the FIVB will donate the money to a cause dedicated to tackling discriminatory behavior and/or to fund educational programs on cultural sensitivity.
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