British Canoeist'S Racy Video Lands Him A Two-Year Ban

Kurts Adams Rozentals: A Canoeist's Controversial Side Hustle

British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. This 23-year-old athlete, once a hopeful for Team GB, has been slapped with a two-year ban after a video surfaced on his social media showing him in a compromising position. The video, reportedly filmed aboard an airplane, was branded as a "sexual act" and was uploaded to his Instagram account back in March, according to the BBC.

From Olympic Dreams to OnlyFans Dreams

Earlier this year, Rozentals captured national attention when he divulged that he raked in over £100,000 on OnlyFans between January and May. The aspiring Olympian claimed that this side gig on the adult platform was crucial for his financial survival as he pursued his Olympic dreams. However, his ambitions have taken a backseat after a disciplinary panel deemed the video as bringing the sport into "serious disrepute," violating its policies on "indecent, offensive, or immoral behavior."

“This ban would have never happened if athletes were funded properly," Rozentals told BBC Sport. "And while I understand the video could be described as crazy, it was not illegal and certainly shouldn’t be the reason for banning an athlete.”

Facing the Fallout

Rozentals' actions led to his removal from Paddle UK's World Class Programme, an initiative that supports athletes on their Olympic journey. The athlete, who was receiving an annual grant of £16,000, argued that it wasn't sufficient to cover the expenses of aspiring Olympians. Now, with a two-year ban hanging over his head, those financial worries might be on pause.

Despite the punishment, Rozentals remains unapologetic about his decision to post the video. He reflected on how the income from OnlyFans transformed his lifestyle, allowing him to fund his own training for the first time. "Looking back now," he mused, "I probably wouldn’t post something like that. But I remember the state of mind I was in when I did film it and post it."

Paddle UK issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a safe and open environment for all athletes, enforcing action when necessary and proportionate under their disciplinary policy.