Mexican Olympic softball team tosses uniforms in the trash

The Mexican softball made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by defeating Italy 5-0 in the final game of the round-robin and obtaining their first victory in the history of the campaign. Unfortunately, they failed to win the bronze medal at the Olympic Games because they lost in their last game 3-2 against Canada.

Controversy over leaving behind their uniforms

After putting an end to their participation at the Olympics, the Mexican softball team returned to the Olympic VIllage to pack their stuff and return back to their respective hometowns. After they left Tokyo, it was reported that they had left their uniforms behind and they were found in the trash, something that disappointed the Mexican Olympic Committee.

"It's regrettable that they left behind the uniforms in such an inappropriate place as the garbage in favor of some bedspreads from the Olympic Village," committee president Carlos Padilla told ESPN.

The uniforms were found by Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara, who used her social media to post a picture of what the softball team had left behind in the trash at the Olympic Village on Wednesday night. “This uniform represents years of effort, sacrifice and tears," Cruz's tweet read. "All of us who are Mexican athletes yearn to wear it with dignity, and today sadly the Mexican softball team left it in the Olympic Village's trash."

Response from the softball team

14 of the players that participated in the Olympic softball tournament with Mexico were born and raised in the United States and only one was born in Mexico. So many Mexican athletes and fans were offended to find out how they had left behind their uniforms in the trash of the Olympic Village.

So the president of the Mexican Softball Federation, Rolando Guerrero, came out to defend his players amid the controversy. “It was a matter of excess weight. If it was in the trash and people were sniffing around, they had to make room in their luggage because for a softball team it's not the same packing 33 bats, catchers' equipment, game gear, three uniforms and workout clothes as it is to pack a pair of gloves," Guerrero said.

"It's much easier to pack a pair of gloves, all due respect. We won't be going after anyone or responding, or rebutting anything on social media. It was simply a matter of too much cargo."