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Cuba sends no team to the Montreal Pan American Judo Open after four judoka defect, according to 14ymedio
No team from the island travelled to Canada for the tournament that ends on Monday, after four judoka left the delegation at the Pan American Open in Florida, 14ymedio reported.
Jonathan Charón, Lianet Cardona, Dayanara Curbelo and Orlando Polanco, who between them won four gold medals and two silvers at the Pan American Open in Florida, left the Cuban delegation, and the Cuban Judo and Jiu Jitsu Federation sent no team to the Montreal Pan American Judo Open, which ends on Monday, according to 14ymedio.
The state newspaper Juventud Rebelde noted that officials had entered 13 judoka for the Montreal event but that "in the end none turned up," and regretted that the decision leaves Amado Montes, Rubén Romero, Anisleidys Ur, Yainet Coronado and Marlon Herrera without competition, according to the quote relayed by 14ymedio.
Of the six Cuban competitors who took part in the Gainesville event, only the world medallists Andy Granda and Iván Silva returned to the island, last Thursday, according to journalist Raúl Rodríguez cited by 14ymedio. The outlet adds that, as is usual in such cases, sports officials said nothing.
The Montreal Pan American Open awards points for the International Judo Federation ranking and for qualification to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Judo coach Alain Fernández Casero, who disclosed the details of the departures in Florida, warned that "Cuban judo keeps losing chances to compete internationally, gain experience and earn points that matter for future events," and said the athletes "need opportunities, stability and sports planning that secures their future."
Former wrestler Roly Dámaso wrote on social media that behind each defection "there are years of training, family sacrifices, dreams and hopes that find no answer inside Cuba," and that "this is not about a lack of patriotism or ingratitude," but about "the right of any athlete to decide their future, develop their talent and be paid decently for their profession."
Sources: 14ymedio
Data updated: 2026-11-09T04:15:00.000Z