Mexican businessman Arturo Elías Ayub revealed that the artistic swimming team resorted to selling swimsuits to fund their competitions, as they did not receive scholarships from Conade during Ana Gabriela Guevara's tenure. This occurred after Guevara withdrew the scholarships from the athletes due to her acknowledgment of the Stabilization Commission of the Mexican Swimming Federation amid embezzlement accusations against Kiril Todorov.
"We are athletes who strive every day. Nuria Diosdado and I went to a meeting where she asked us how much money we needed and what we were going to earn. She gave us one million pesos and with that, we went to compete in Egypt, where we won all the medals we could win," shared Mexican swimmer Jessica Sobrino.
Arturo Elías Ayub supported the artistic swimming team, led by Nuria Diosdado, by providing them with financial resources to compete in Egypt in 2023. This assistance became necessary due to the controversy with Ana Guevara, who refused to provide financial backing to the team, leading the athletes to sell swimsuits to cover travel expenses.
During the 2023 World Cup in Africa, the Mexican artistic swimming team achieved first place. However, Jessica Sobrino revealed that they did not have enough funds to cover travel expenses and allowances, leading them to sell swimsuits as a financing measure. In response to this situation, Arturo Elías Ayub provided support with a contribution of 40 million pesos.
In response to Ana Guevara's accusations regarding the artistic swimming team's debt, Nuria Diosdado stated: "We have given them 40 million pesos and they have not justified it. They are liars because it is 40 million pesos invested; they have trainers, they eat, sleep, and did not compete throughout 2022. If we are named as this face of resistance, we are proud to be that voice that has been able to raise many stories of athletes."
For her part, Guevara expressed that she did not care how the athletes obtained money to finance themselves, even joking about the sale of underwear.
