In March, Doha is hosting a World Tour competition for women for the first time and there has been a real storm during the preparations.
The International Volleyball Federation (Fivb) urged players to wear a t-shirt and longer trousers - "out of respect for the culture and tradition of the host country", which provoked strong reactions in the German national team.
- It really is the only country and the only tournament where the government tells us how to do our job - and we criticize that, said World Cup silver medalist Karla Borger.
Qatar backs
Borger said she normally has no problem adapting to the culture of a country, but that the heat in Qatar - it could be up to 30 degrees in March - makes it necessary to play in a bikini.
Now the Qatar Volleyball Association has chosen to back down and says that "they will not make any demands on what the athletes should wear".
"Not respected as a woman"
It remains to be seen if the German stars, who decided to nob the tournament, will change.
- It's not about us wearing more or less clothes, it's about us not being allowed to wear our work clothes at our job, says Julia Sude to Der Spiegel.
German coach Helke Claasen is said to have decided:
- She says she will not go because she does not feel respected as a woman, says the chairman of the German Volleyball Association Niclas Hildebrand to Süddeutsche Zeitung.