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Cuba’s athlete deserts team during World Championship in Moscow

The 22-year old sportsman from Cuba failed to demonstrate good results and dropped out from the competition because of poor results in the preliminary events
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, August 21 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Federal Migration Service has no information about an athlete from Cuba, Orlando Ortega, who deserted from his national team during the Track and Field World Championship which ended in Moscow a few days ago. The Federal Migration Service has no information about the Cuban sportsman, it said in reply to questions as to whether Ortega had applied with any requests to the Russian Migration Service.

Orlando Ortega, a runner who took part in the final 110-meter hurdles event at the London Olympics, has deserted his national team in Moscow, the National Federation of the Track and Field sports of Cuba said on Tuesday.

"Such act has nothing to do with the principles which inspire us; such athletes will be always condemned by all those who regard loyalty as an indispensable component of the genuine people's sport," the National Federation of Cuba said in a statement, commenting on Ortega's desertion.

In Moscow, the 22-year old sportsman from Cuba failed to demonstrate good results and dropped out from the competition for the medals of the championship because of poor results in the preliminary events.

The Cuba national team has lost one more strong athlete this year. Earlier, Cuba's Track and Field Sports Federation had banned the 2008 Beijing Olympics champion and holder of world records in a 110- meter hurdles race, Dayron Robles, to perform for its national team.

At the Moscow World championship Cuba won two bronze and one silver medals, which proved the worst result Cuba had demonstrated since 1987.