Romanian athletes who were supposed to participate in the World Kayak Fishing Championship in Mexico were denied entry into the country and expelled, on the grounds that they did not have printed proof of payment for accommodation for the official competition period. The president of the Association of Hunters and Sport Fishermen of Romania stated that the athletes had all expenses paid, including accommodation, plane tickets, and kayak rentals, totaling over 30,000 euros.
After 12 hours of waiting in an airport room, without phones and explanations, the athletes were put on a plane to Spain. Although they presented proof of reservation for the training period and payment confirmations, the documents were not accepted by the Mexican authorities. Răzvan Ghindăoanu, one of the athletes, described the experience as extremely frustrating and dehumanizing, emphasizing that despite the difficulties, the team will not give up and hopes to return to competition.
Sources