Six World Track & Field Athletes Arrested in Havanna Disco Fight

by Yuliya Talmazan | August 24, 2009 at 11:38 am

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The 2009 World Championships in Athletics that took place in Berlin, Germany, August 15-23, had an unpleasant closure yesterday, when six athletes were arrested for taking part in a brawl at a popular local nightclub -- Havanna Disco.

The names of the six athletes arrested are not being disclosed, but it is known that the athletes are from USA, Bahamas, and Cuba. The Nassau Guardian reports that according to an unverified source, the three athletes from Bahamas are: high jumper Donald Thomas, hurdler Shamar Sands, and triple jumper Leevan Sands.

The six were being investigated on possible charges of disturbing the peace and causing bodily harm after the incident at the Havanna Disco, police said.

The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. Sunday as the athletes, who were part of a group of 20 people, tried to get into the overflowing nightclub, police said.

Words were exchanged with doormen after the group was told to stay in a waiting area, police said. The confrontation escalated when the doormen then tried to force the group to leave.