Cuban volleyball player Noslén Díaz confirmed on Monday that he has requested his release from the Cuban volleyball federation.
"I continued training until the final decision was made about the men's duo. Once I knew the outcome, I left," Díaz stated in an exclusive interview with elToque, referencing the separation from his partner Jorge Luis Alayo, who was the first to request a release as a protest against unpaid wages.
"I didn't want to play with a new partner. Now, what I want is for them to give me my release and to get married," he added.
Díaz is looking forward to marrying his fiancée, U.S. volleyball player Kylie Deberg, and hopes to "continue playing abroad soon."
Financial Disputes and Departure
The Cuban beach volleyball duo of Noslén Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo, ranked among the top ten in the world, decided to leave the INDER structure after accumulating a debt of over $107,000 in international prize money that, according to specialized reports, has yet to be delivered to them.
This situation highlights ongoing tensions between high-performance athletes and state sports institutions, which manage contracts and prize distributions. Meanwhile, the Cuban Volleyball Federation and INDER remain silent, as reported by Martí Noticias.
The debt, reportedly amounting to $107,000, is sourced from prize money awarded at international tournaments in which the duo has competed over recent months, not from state funds.
The Unfolding of Events
Jorge Luis Alayo was the first to request a release. In January, Díaz explained to the independent outlet elToque that his partner had already decided to step away from the official Cuban sports structure.
"I haven't asked for my release; I want to keep playing... the money delay is a payment we're still waiting for, and I know they'll pay it because that's happened before. Alayo, however, is determined not to play anymore and is in the process of leaving," Díaz, 23, stated at the time.
However, merely a month later, Díaz also decided to sever ties with the state-controlled sports body, marking the definitive end of the duo's relationship with the state-run sports system.
Achievements and Future Prospects
Their departure comes during the peak of their competitive success. Díaz and Alayo finished ninth in the 2024 Paris Olympics, a significant achievement for Cuban beach volleyball.
In 2024, they clinched gold at the Russian Super Cup, along with two silver medals, a bronze, and a fourth-place finish in five World Pro Tour tournaments. They also won the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and finished ninth at the World Championship held in Australia.
To these accomplishments, they added a gold medal at the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games, the only gold for Cuba in that discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions about Noslén Díaz's Departure
Why did Noslén Díaz leave the Cuban volleyball federation?
Noslén Díaz left the Cuban volleyball federation due to financial disputes, including an unpaid debt of over $107,000 in international prize money, and to marry his fiancée, U.S. volleyball player Kylie Deberg.
What achievements did Díaz and Alayo accomplish before leaving?
Díaz and Alayo finished ninth in the 2024 Paris Olympics, won gold at the Russian Super Cup, and secured several medals in the World Pro Tour. They also captured a gold medal at the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games.