Athlete's Olympic Dreams Dashed Over Instagram Post
In a move that highlights the growing clash between conservative sports institutions and the modern realities of being an athlete, British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals, 23, has been handed a two-year ban from his sport. The reason? Not doping or cheating, but for posting an "explicit" video of himself to his public Instagram account.
The disciplinary panel for Paddle UK, the sport's governing body, ruled that the video, which it described as showing a "sexual act" on an airplane, brought canoeing into "serious disrepute" and constituted gross misconduct. As a result, Rozentals is barred from all competition and training and has been kicked off the World Class Programme — the UK's lottery-funded path for Olympic hopefuls.
"This Ban Would Have Never Happened If Athletes Were Funded Properly"
While the governing body focuses on morality, Rozentals tells a different story: one of financial survival. Speaking to BBC Sport, he called the punishment "very extreme" and directly linked his actions to the meager funding he received.
Rozentals stated his annual funding from Paddle UK was just £16,000. In stark contrast, he claimed to have earned over £100,000 between January and May from his social media activities, which include an account on the adult subscription platform OnlyFans.
This income, he argues, was essential. "It was the first time in my life I saw real progress in my financial situation," he explained. "It was the first time I was able to fund the training myself. It was the first time I was able to get my mum something nice after her sacrificing everything in order to allow me to chase my dream."
He admits the video was "crazy" but remains unrepentant, seeing a direct link between creating provocative content and improving his life. "I saw a direct correlation of me making those type of videos and my life situation improving... I don't regret it," he said.
A Clash of Worlds
The case raises pointed questions about the expectations placed on athletes in less-televised sports. While sports bodies demand a pristine public image, they often fail to provide the financial support necessary for athletes to dedicate themselves fully to their craft. This forces many to find alternative income streams, with some turning to platforms like OnlyFans where they can monetize their physique and personality — attributes often celebrated within the confines of their sport.
Paddle UK's statement emphasized its commitment to a "safe and open environment" and stated the ban was for breaching policies on "indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour" and "offensive use of social media." The panel also accused Rozentals of "intentionally misinforming the press" by initially suggesting the suspension was solely about his OnlyFans account, rather than the specific public Instagram video.
However, for many observers, the distinction is minor. The core issue remains a sports federation penalizing an athlete for his conduct outside of the sport, conduct he argues was a direct result of the federation's own lack of support. His story serves as a stark example of the difficult choices facing a new generation of athletes navigating the worlds of elite sport and the online creator economy.
