Cuba denies possible representation by Dayron Robles

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HAVANA, Nov. 6 -- Cuban Athletics Commissioner, Jorge Luis Sanchez Wednesday rejected statements by the retired Cuban trainer Santiago Antunez on the possible competitive return of hurdler Dayron Robles.

Antunez told the media that he is preparing his pupil Robles in the outskirts of Havana for the athletic winter season.

"We are Cubans, we are training in Cuba and we believe that we are entitled to participate in competitions like Cubans," Antunez said.

Sanchez recalled that Robles, 110-meter hurdles Olympic champion in Beijing 2008 and world record holder till 2012, presented his renounce of the national team after the London Olympics and left his country protected by the new migratory regulations.

Sanchez stressed that Robles participated last June in international meetings, although without representing any flag, and he was not then authorized to represent Cuba.

He said that the National Sports Institute (INDER) maintains the same position related to Robles.

"Both Dayron and his coach are not authorized to participate in any official competition in Cuba, and they are not allowed to train in some of the INDER facilities," Sanchez added.

"There will be no changes in such sense," stressed the Commissioner.Coach Antunez had previously told the local media that Robles wished to compete representing the island, or at least his birth province Guantanamo.

"He never intended to stop representing his country," Antunez said.

He pointed out that in these moments Robles has good psychical state and a very good athletic shape, doing a special training on the grass until December, when they plan to start training on the track and see if the former world record holder can participate at indoor competitions.

So far this year Robles has competed 10 times, with three victories.

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