A top British canoeist claims he has been banned from competing in the sport because of content he posted on the OnlyFans social media site.
Kurts Adams Rozentals is described as “an elite performer” on the website of Paddle UK, the umbrella body governing the sport in Britain. According to the site, Rozentals won a silver medal in the canoe slalom at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023, while also picking up a silver as part of a three-man team at the same event.
A separate page on the site shows that the 22-year-old was in contention to represent Great Britain at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
OnlyFans is a popular subscription-based website known for its sexually explicit content, although some content creators also post music and fitness videos.
Paddle UK confirmed to CNN in an email that it is carrying out an investigation but declined to go into the details.
“Paddle UK can confirm that in line with our Athlete Disciplinary Policy, an athlete on the canoe slalom programme is under interim action, pending the outcome of an investigation,” the governing body said.
“The investigation has been referred to independent investigation service Sport Integrity,” it added.
According to Paddle UK, the investigation “places a restriction on the athlete being able to engage with the World Class Programme (which includes communicating with athletes, coaches and staff who are part of the programme).”
It also means the athlete cannot attend sites or facilities associated with the governing bodies.
The body added: “Paddle UK is committed to ensuring a safe and open environment for all, and interim action under the Athlete Disciplinary Policy is only taken where necessary and proportionate.”
Struggling to pay the bills
Rozentals said on Instagram that his family had “sacrificed everything so i could keep chasing the ultimate dream of racing at the Olympics.”
The athlete, who moved to the United Kingdom from Latvia as a child, told followers that “money has always been a massive struggle” for him and his family so he decided to do “whatever it takes” to succeed.
He wrote: “i started making what they now describe ‘edgy vid
0 Comments