ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
A Cuban boxing trainer who criticized the training methods in his country has defected, saying Tuesday he was afraid the government might punish him for his opinions.
Mariano Leyva, a 13-year veteran of the Cuban national boxing team, surfaced in Miami after disappearing from the Atlanta Olympics on Saturday. He is the fourth Cuban to defect during this Olympic year, but the first during the Games.
Leyva had been under contract to help train the Mexican boxing team, and said he never intended to defect. But he learned Cuban officials were unhappy with his criticism of Cuban training methods, and feared he would be punished when he returned home.
Leyva's wife of 23 years and four children were left behind in Cuba. When asked about his family, an already nervous Leyva choked back tears. He later broke down briefly. - Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 29 linesby CNB