Olympic hopeful and British canoe slalom athlete Kurt Adams Rozentals claims he’s been banned from competition after launching an OnlyFans account to support his training financially.
The 26-year-old, who secured a silver medal in the C1 event at the 2023 World Under-23 Championships, revealed he was suspended by Paddle UK in April while under investigation. Although the governing body insists the suspension is not disciplinary, Rozentals believes it stems from his use of the adult content subscription platform OnlyFans.
Rozentals had been a part of the GB World Class Programme, which supports athletes preparing for the Olympic Games through UK Sport funding. However, he said he has since been dropped from the programme, despite years of commitment and success in canoe slalom.
In a statement cited by Sky News, Paddle UK confirmed that interim action had been taken, citing the need to “safeguard other athletes, staff, and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation.” The organisation noted that the case has been referred to Sport Integrity for independent investigation and added that its disciplinary policy prohibits “offensive use of social media” and “offensive or immoral behaviour.”
Rozentals, however, believes his OnlyFans presence — which includes 39 videos and content labelled “no limits, no filters” — is the root cause of his exclusion. He explained to the BBC that he turned to the platform in January out of financial necessity, arguing that the £16,000 annual grant provided by Paddle UK was insufficient for full-time training and living costs.
“I don’t know how much you need but it’s certainly not £16,000,” he told the BBC. “When you have to cover rent, travel, food… and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London. They’re very fortunate to have parent backing – I wasn’t.”
Rozentals, who lives in the East Midlands, said he had to commute to and from London regularly for training, adding significant financial strain. The OnlyFans venture, he said, was a means of survival.
“I was sick of worrying how to pay rent, I was sick of being on the verge of homelessness. I did whatever it took to never be in that position,” he shared in an April social media post. “Was it unconventional? Sure. I’m not perfect. But to ban me from racing… that’s f**king insane.”
Since launching his page, Rozentals reports earning over £100,000 in under six months. Despite the financial relief, the athlete now faces a heartbreaking choice between continuing on the platform or pursuing his Olympic dream.
“This is the hardest decision that I’ve ever faced in my life,” he said. “It’s a tough decision but unless something changes in the way athletes are paid I don’t see a way of working with Paddle UK.”
As the investigation proceeds, Rozentals’ future in British sport remains uncertain. The case has ignited broader questions about how governing bodies handle athlete conduct and the financial pressures many elite competitors face outside the spotlight.
