Controversy Surrounding British Canoeist's OnlyFans Activity
British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals has faced significant disciplinary action, receiving a two-year ban from canoeing due to controversial content shared online. The incident has sparked a debate over athlete conduct and financial pressures within professional sports.
Rozentals' OnlyFans Profile and Financial Struggles
In January 2025, Rozentals, a 22-year-old athlete participating in the World Class Programme, created an OnlyFans profile aimed at supplementing his $21,000 annual income from sports. Juggling various jobs previously, including freelance video editing and working in Amazon warehouses, Rozentals turned to the content subscription service as he found other jobs interfered with his training schedule. Raised by a single mother, his efforts were motivated by a need to support his ongoing living and training expenses.
Incident and Subsequent Ban
The controversy reached its peak when Rozentals uploaded a video to his primarily promotional Instagram account, depicting a sexual act on a plane. The video, since deleted, was initially intended to promote his OnlyFans content but instead led to a suspension and initiated a full investigation by a disciplinary panel. Paddle UK, the governing body for canoeing in Britain, concluded that Rozentals’ actions brought the sport into "serious disrepute", resulting in a ban from all competitions and training sessions, removal from the World Class Programme, and ineligibility for the 2032 Olympics.
Response and Repercussions
Speaking with BBC Sport , Rozentals expressed regret over his actions. He highlighted how the decision to participate in adult content creation was driven by financial necessity, noting a significant improvement in his family's quality of life since beginning his OnlyFans venture. Paddle UK defended its decision, emphasizing its role in sustaining a "safe and open environment" in the sport and deeming their actions as "necessary and proportionate."
Looking Forward
Rozentals has suggested that better financial support for athletes could help prevent such incidents in the future, implying that financial instability can lead athletes to make controversial choices. His situation continues to unfold, with potential further developments unannounced yet anticipated.
