Despite Sotomayor’s denial, sources from his surroundings say he owns the Pizzería foured by ONAT

Havana/The Cuban athlete Javier Sotomayor has flatly denied being the owner of the Pizzería D’Soto, audited by the National Tax Administration Office (ONAT), which determined a debt to the State by the establishment of 8,632,820.88 pesos. In a comment at the foot of a Post On Facebook Within an athletics group -yes ok has already been erased-, the world jump champion defended himself from the “publication” appeared in various media and said that D’Ato only has an owner, his half brother Dariel Sotomayor. “I have absolutely anything to do with your company, I have not received or put a penny in it or have done any management,” he says.

In his message he says that “those who have really been, are clients or workers of D’Ato know that I have absolutely nothing to do with their company.” And he explains: “Being Dariel Son of Our Father makes us have the same surname and someone (I don’t know who) was invented to be news that I am the owner of D’Atoto, when I am or partner, although we both have both the surname Sotomayor ”.

Similarly, he claims to ignore “of his debts and financial state”, although he says: “They just commented (I am not in killings, I walk to a Meeting of height jump) that continues to work, it is not as how the news says. ”

Javier Sotomayor’s statements have surprised several of his acquaintances, who claim that the pizzeria is from the athlete. “He says he has nothing to do with the MSME of the brother and yes, it does have to do, what happens that he is getting out of the subject, ”he tells 14ymedio An old friend of the athlete who has been distanced with him years and asks for anonymity.

The same source reports that the closure, on March 8 of last year, of the Bar 2.45owned by Sotomayor and named for his world high jump record, he was not the first: “That was the second time.” Asked about the causes, the man points to rumors, because he says he never visited the place: “Where there is a bar, there are prostitutes, and where there are prostitutes, there is drugs, that is holy word. One thing leads to the other, it is a continuity. ”

A young man who worked as a custodian in a nearby business also refers that the bar, located in the exclusive 5th Avenue, in Miramar, was a meeting point for foreign entrepreneurs, “billetudos” tourists and Cubans of the “wealthy show” and that in He looked “high -end prostitutes.” And he details: “There was practically a walkway outside of women waiting for a couple to pay the entrance, the drinks and their services.”

Another acquaintance of Javier Sotomayor, former employee of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), opts for prudence: “Prostitution problems in that place took tremendous force. Now, I don’t have evidence of that and I don’t put my hand on the candle to verify such an idea. ”

The problem with the bar, ensures a fourth fountain that does not want to reveal its name, came from the scam of an alleged athlete partner. “A guy who was in charge of his business, taking care of everything, left and left him embarked,” he refers to this newspaper. “I think that guy did business with two or three more everyone has left him burned and pyed.”

And he continues: “The information that I have is that there was a batting between Soto and the other owner of the bar, who said that Soto was diverting funds from the bar for his business in Spain, especially to sponsor the Training of your child in El Salto Alto. The result or negotiation between the partners was for Soto to lose a percentage, quite, or to cease to be a partner. ”

Therefore, he explained, they closed, with the idea of ​​opening soon “normally”: “The dependents were told that they were closed until new notice and they were not told anything else. They practically fired them overnight. ”

A former Safety Chief of 2.45 summarizes: “He closed as a result of disagreements between Sotomayor and his partner in bar management, although I do not rule out that there was also a debt with the ONAT.” As for prostitution, he points out: “There were, as in all the bars of Havana”, but sentence: “Drugs were not allowed.”

Sotomayor, according to this former employee, is the owner of the house – ”gave it to Fidel,” he says – and the partner was in charge of managing the establishment.

This Tuesday, in the immediate vicinity of Bar 2.45, with its doors closed, no one knew how to answer the premises. Surrounded by embassies and shopping centers, there were not many passersby during working hours. When the establishment announced its closure, it implied that it was temporary: “Our doors are not yet open, all will be notified by publications for this account that is the real one.”

In any case, none have doubts that D’Ato belongs to the athlete. Founded in 2022, began with the sale and delivery of pizzas, the MSME It was incorporated other services, such as an online market in foreign currency, which can be paid from outside, where it sells from pork, vegetable oil and beer to articles for vehicle maintenance.

In 2023 they made Cimex lease them the property in which El Bodegón, a local chain place El Fast, was located in the Matanzas Center. After remodeling the trade, D’Ato Pizzas opened in February 2024.

The MSME He obtained permission to open another place at the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport, in Varadero, last May. “Our young collective, led by Dariel Sotomayor Rivero, offers them a wide range of products with the principle of providing a service at your height. With the support of Javier Sotomayor, a world winner of Salto Alto, the inauguration of this space whose location is in the Taxis parking area took place, ”he then celebrated a publication of the company.

In his advertising, he has never hidden the presence of the Salto champion, who frequently comes out in the promotional photos, for example posing at his doors on a cast motorcycle, or cutting the inaugural film of the premises at the Varadero airport.