British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals has been handed a two-year ban from all competition and training after posting “explicit” content on social media. The disciplinary panel found that Rozentals’ actions brought the sport into serious disrepute and amounted to gross misconduct, leading to his deselection from the World Class Programme, UK Sport’s lottery-funded initiative aimed at preparing athletes for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics.

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The Incident

In March 2025, Rozentals uploaded a video to his public Instagram account depicting what the disciplinary panel described as a sexual act performed on an airplane. The clip was later removed due to its explicit nature. Paddle UK, the sport’s governing body, concluded that this violated its disciplinary policy concerning:

• Indecent, offensive, or immoral behaviour
• Offensive use of social media

The panel also found that Rozentals had intentionally misinformed the press regarding links between his suspension and his account on OnlyFans, a subscription platform known for adult content.

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Rozentals’ Response

Rozentals, 23, expressed that he viewed the punishment as “very extreme” and defended his decision to post the video:

“Looking back now, I probably wouldn’t post something like that. But I remember the state of mind I was in when I did film it and post it. It was the first time in my life I saw real progress in my financial situation.”

Rozentals explained that his videos on social media, which earned him over £100,000 between January and May 2025, allowed him to fund his training independently and support his family, despite receiving only £16,000 in funding from Paddle UK.

“I saw a direct correlation of me making those type of videos and my life situation improving… I don’t regret it.”

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Paddle UK Statement

Paddle UK emphasized its commitment to maintaining a safe and open environment for all athletes and confirmed that action under the disciplinary policy is taken when necessary and proportionate. The governing body concluded:

“Rozentals admitted posting an explicit video on their public Instagram profile, which was subsequently removed given its explicit nature. This was a breach of our disciplinary policy.”

As a result, Rozentals is barred from all Paddle UK-sanctioned training and competitions and will no longer participate in the World Class Programme.

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Implications for UK Canoeing

The case raises ongoing questions about the balance between athlete behaviour, personal freedom, and professional standards in sport. While Rozentals claims his social media earnings were essential to fund his training, governing bodies emphasize the importance of protecting the sport’s reputation and enforcing codes of conduct.

This disciplinary action may prompt other UK sporting organizations to review social media policies, athlete funding structures, and support mechanisms to ensure compliance while helping athletes pursue professional careers.