Nine Cuban canoeists defect to Canada
The athletes were competing in the third Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup In Montreal
Nine of the 12 members of Cuba’s canoeing team defected while in Canada for an international competition, a source familiar with the matter told media on Thursday.
The athletes had travelled to Montreal to compete in the third Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup, which was held from July 9 through Thursday.
Cuba’s National Institute of Sports (INDER) and the country’s canoe federation did not immediately comment on the reported defections.
Cuban athletes have a long history of defecting while attending international sporting events.
In October 2021, Cuba’s under-23 baseball team travelled to Mexico for a tournament, but only about half of the squad returned to the island.
The defections come as Cuba faces its worst economic crisis in decades, a situation further aggravated by the fuel blockade imposed by US President Donald Trump in January.
The country continues to struggle with recurring nationwide power outages, while shortages of medicines, fuel and essential goods remain widespread.
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