The minister of Justice, Tarso Genro, denied that the return to Cuba of two athletes that had abandoned the delegation of that country during the Pan-American Games, in July, would have been articulated between the governments of Brazil and Cuba. In a public hearing at the Committee on External Relations and National Defense, on Thursday (23), the minister affirmed that the Federal Police acted strictly according to the law, since the athletes were in irregular situation in the country and they refused an offer to stay in Brazil.

The boxers Guillermo Rigoundeaux, 26 years old, and Erislandy Lara, 24, left Brazil on the first Sunday of August (5) at dawn, in an aircraft freighted by the Cuban government. The trip happened about 72 hours after the moment when they were found, in a small hotel at the Beach of Araruama (RJ).

After critics to the Cuban regime, senator Arthur Virgílio (PSDB-AM), author of the petition for the public hearing, affirmed that one of the athletes would have received phone call during which his wife would have informed that the Cuban government had taken from her the car and the house. Besides, he reminded that authorities of the country had already announced that the two boxers - a world champion and an olympic champion – will not participate any more of the world championship that would be also selective for the next Olympic Games.

In support to the minister, senators João Pedro (PT-AM) and Ideli Salvatti (PT-SC), leader of the government block, said that the proof that the boxers decided by themselves to return to Cuba was the permanence in Brazil of three other athletes that had also deserted.

- Who wanted to stay has stayed; who wanted to return to Cuba returned - she affirmed.