World UPDATE: Cuba volleyball players jailed for rape in Finland

Five members of Cuba’s national volleyball team have been convicted of raping a Finnish woman during a World League tournament in Tampere.

They were detained in the southern Finnish city on 2 July after a woman said she had been raped at a resort.
Eight men were initially held. Two were released shortly afterward.

Another of the players acquitted by the court in Tampere and was released by the end of August.

When the rape happened at the hotel in which the players were staying the team was taking part in a tournament ahead of the Rio Olympics.

The guys had denied the accusation, insisting permission had been given by the woman.

The guys given the longer sentences included 27-year old captain Rolando Cepeda Abreu, Alfonso Gavilan, 21, Ricardo Calvo Manzano, 19, and Osmany Uriarte Mestre, who’s also 21. 21, Luis Sosa Sierra, was granted a shorter sentence.

They were ordered to pay €24,000 (£20,500; $27,000) in compensation to the victim.

As the allegations came forth, two of the team coaches were dismissed.

Despite its depleted squad, a team was fielded by Cuba and lost all five of its matches.