Italy has cut four players from its team ahead of the volleyball World League final round at Rio’s Maracanãzinho arena, which starts on Wednesday (15 July) and will serve as a test event for next year’s Olympic Games in the city.

Captain Dragan Travica, Giulio Sabbi, Luigi Randazzo and Ivan Zaytsev, the team’s star player, will not compete in the tournament because of disciplinary issues, according to the Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV).

“There are values that must be the base of all actions when a player wears the national shirt. If this was not clear before, from today we are certain that it will,” said Italy coach Mauro Berruto in an article on the FIPAV site. “This decision, taken with the federation, will put the value of respecting the rules at the centre of every project.”

The four players returned to Europe on Monday (13 July) and three substitutes – Davide Saitta, Iacopo Botto and Gabriele Nelli – should arrive in Brazil on Tuesday, the day before Italy’s opening match, against Serbia.

Italy have won the World League eight times, with only Brazil – on nine – more successful in the competition. Italy, Brazil and Serbia will be joined by world champions Poland, the USA and France in the tournament that will run until Sunday (19 July).