Cuba confirms arrest of volleyball players in Finland

Havana, July 5 (IANS) The Cuban volleyball federation on Monday night confirmed the arrest of six players of the men's national team in Finland for participating in an alleged rape case.

In a statement, the Cuban federation said Osmany Uriarte, Abraham Alfonso, Ricardo Calvo, Rolando Cepeda, Luis Sosa and Dariel Albo were under arrest in the city of Tampere, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The preliminary information shows these six players are involved in the acts which are totally rejected by our federation and are far from the discipline and respect that characterize Cuban athletes around the world," said the statement.

Finnish police will urge a regional court on Tuesday order the six men to be remanded in custody to continue the investigation before any possible charges.

Initially eight men of the Cuban volleyball squad were detained over the weekend in Tampere after local police on Saturday morning received a report that a woman had been raped at a hotel in the city, 170 km north of the capital Helsinki.

Afterwards, local police released two players.

According to the statement, the Cuban embassy in Helsinki and the volleyball federation will continue to follow up the case and the determination Finnish authorities take, including a possible trial and sentences to the players.

The Cuban team was in the city participating in the second leg of the Volleyball World League tournament.

--IANS

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