Kurts Adams Rozentals, a rising British canoeist with Olympic ambitions, has been suspended from competition after being removed from Paddle UK’s World Class Programme. The suspension, which took effect in April, follows undisclosed allegations linked to Rozentals’ activity on subscription site OnlyFans—a platform known for adult content but also used by creators across various industries.
Rozentals, who won a silver medal at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023, says he believes the action was taken because of the “edgy” posts he shares on Instagram that drive traffic to his OnlyFans page. Since launching the account in January 2025, he claims to have earned over £100,000—an amount that dwarfs the £16,000 annual grant provided by the UK Sport programme to Olympic hopefuls.
The 23-year-old athlete told BBC Sport that he was informed of the suspension via a phone call and was told he could no longer contact staff or other athletes on the programme. “I kind of froze and I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into,” he said. “My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream.”
Rozentals says financial hardship was a major factor in his decision to join OnlyFans. He shared that his mother worked 90-hour weeks and that they endured years of struggle, including visits from bailiffs. Living in the East Midlands and commuting to London for training added further financial pressure, making the £16,000 stipend from UK Sport insufficient to cover rent, travel, and food.
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Paddle UK declined to confirm whether OnlyFans was directly linked to his suspension, describing the move instead as a “neutral” interim action. The case has been referred to independent body Sport Integrity. According to the Athlete Disciplinary Policy, grounds for de-selection include “offensive use of social media” and “indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour.”
Asked if he would consider taking down his OnlyFans page to stay on the Olympic track, Rozentals said he should not be forced to make such a choice. “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever faced in my life,” he said. “I came to the realisation about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle… I’m going to find a way where we don’t have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I’m able to put everything into this sport.”
His comments echo a growing debate about financial equity in elite sports. Rozentals isn’t the only British athlete exploring alternative income streams. In 2024, Olympic diver Jack Laugher launched an OnlyFans account to support himself between competitions. Laugher’s father defended the move, stating the images posted were no more revealing than what viewers see during televised sporting events. “It makes extra money for him and he’s pleased to have the opportunity,” he said.
UK Sport, which manages the funding for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, said it would not comment on Rozentals’ case while the investigation is ongoing. The organisation reiterated that the Athlete Performance Award is only a contribution toward basic living and sporting costs, and that recent increases had been implemented to better support athletes.
Rozentals, who remains under investigation, said he hopes for a future where athletes aren’t forced to choose between financial survival and athletic success. “Unless something changes in the way athletes are paid,” he said, “I don’t see a way of working with Paddle UK.”
