Team GB hopeful 'told to choose' between Olympics and 'spicy content' after ban
Kurts Adams Rozentals has been suspended from competing in canoeing events by Paddle UK amid an investigation which he suspects is linked to his OnlyFans account
British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals says that he's being forced to choose between his Olympic dream and his OnlyFans account after being banned from competing. Rozentals, from Staffordshire, competes in the individual canoe slalom but was suspended by governing body Paddle UK last month.
This was due to 'allegations' surrounding his social media posts, something which Paddle UK have refused to clarify but he suspects is due to him having an OnlyFans account. Rozentals, who won individual C1 silver at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023, created an account on the subscription-based website in January to help fund his training programme.
He's since posted 39 videos and over 100 photos on OnlyFans, and has accumulated more than 10,000 'likes'. His popularity has come at a price, though. Paddle UK have removed Rozentals from their World Class Programme, UK Sport's lottery-funded initiative which helps athletes on realise their Olympic dreams, pending an investigation.
Rozentals told BBC Sport: "I have been posting videos (on Instagram) that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' (on OnlyFans), to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics."
After receiving a call from a Paddle UK representative in April, telling him that he'd been suspended and wasn't allowed to contact any of the staff or his fellow athletes on the programme, Rozentals said that 'froze'. "I couldn't believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into this is everything I do," he added.
"My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream."
Each athlete on Paddle UK's programme receives an annual grant of £16,000 to support their training. But Rozentals argues that amount simply isn't enough. "I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not £16,000," he explained.
"When you have to cover rent, travel, food... and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London. They're very fortunate to have parent backing - I wasn't. I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth."
Should Kurts Adams Rozentals have to delete his OnlyFans to represent Team GB? Have your say in the comments section.
Paddle UK say that Rozentals' ban isn't disciplinary action but an 'interim' decision. The governing body also described it as a 'neutral act designed to protect all parties' and to 'safeguard other athletes, staff, and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation'.
Their Athlete Disciplinary Policy lists 'offensive use of social media' and 'indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour' as examples of gross misconduct that could result in an athlete being de-selected.
"The investigation has been referred to independent investigation service Sport Integrity," they said regarding Rozentals' ban. "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."
Rozentals insists that he shouldn't have to choose between OnlyFans and potentially representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in three years' time. "This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life," he admitted.
"I came to the realisation about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle, years of living on the edge, my mum working 90 hours-a-week, having bailiffs at the door.
"I'm going to find a way where we don't have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I'm able to put everything into this sport because when you're thinking about how to pay the rent this month and you're standing at the start line, that's not very conducive [to performing well].
"It's a tough decision but unless something changes in the way athletes are paid I don't see a way of working with Paddle UK."
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