Whereabouts of Cuban Rowers Unknown After Pan Ams Defection -- On the Scene

(ATR) Cuban rowing coach Juan Reyes says four Cuban rowers have defected to the United States, though their whereabouts remain unknown.

Rowers Leosmel Ramos, Wibler Turro, Manuel Suarez and Orlando Sotolongo used the opportunity while in Toronto near the U.S. border to defect. Their coach Juan Reyes says he believes they were helped by Cubans within the United States.

The rowing competition at the Pan Ams took place in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, only a few kilometers away from the U.S. border, facilitating the defection.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tells Around the Ringsin a statement they cannot comment about individual defection cases due to privacy laws but detailed the process of Cuban immigration to the U.S.

"CBP continues to promote safe, legal and orderly migration from Cuba under our migration accords and deter dangerous unlawful migration from Cuba. U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintains a robust posture regarding the enforcement of our immigration laws along the nation’s borders and coastal areas."

"Generally, if a Cuban national arriving at a CBP port of entry or between ports expresses fear of return to Cuba or his or her country of last residence, he or she is inspected and paroled. CBP officers and agents will verify whether the individual has any criminal or existing U.S. immigration history. The Cuban national may be eligible under the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act of 1966 to apply for lawful permanent residence one year after inspection and parole."

ATR contacted the Cuban delegation at the Pan Ams but they refused to offer comment about the situation. Three hundred twenty-eight Cuban athletes remain in the delegation to compete for the duration of the Pan Ams.

The defection of Ramos made the Cuban team drop out of the men’s lightweight four on Wednesday after Ramos competed in the qualifying heat on Sunday.

"Some athletes decided to abandon the team, and it was impossible to come up with the crew," Reyes said.

Teammate of the defectors Angel Fournier and men's single scull gold medalist said his team suspected some athletes would defect during the games.

"They made their decision, and this was their decision. The Cuban team was prepared for any circumstances like this that would happen. We had supply teammates," Fournier said through a translator.

This is not the first time Cubans have used opportunities at international sporting competitions to defect to the U.S. The most recent instance came just last week as two Cuban soccer players left their team once in Chicago to compete in the Gold Cup, the football championship of the Americas.

In 2012, three other Cuban soccer players deserted their team before playing Canada in a World Cup qualifying match in Toronto. In 2011, two women on the Cuban football team defected from Vancouver after an Olympic qualifying match.

The largest defection of Cuban athletes at an international competition came at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. Eight members of the Cuban delegation defected during these games, including former Major League Baseball player Danys Báez.

Other notable Cuban defectors include MLB stars such as José Fernández, José Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Céspedes, and Aroldis Chapman. These players usually leave their home country in search of lucrative baseball contracts within the United States.

Written by Kevin Nutleyin Toronto

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