WASHINGTON, Feb 23 The US State Department said it had denied visas to three Olympic gold

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) The US State Department said it had denied visas to three Olympic gold medal-winning Cuban boxers, all of whom defected from Cuba, because of concerns they might settle in the United States.

Antonio Gonzalez, their attorney and manager, said the men deserted the Cuban national boxing team in Venezuela in late December and then traveled to Colombia, where they were denied US visas.

The three, whom Gonzalez yesterday identified as Odlanier Solis, Yan Barthelemy and Yuriorkis Gamboa, all won gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and had hoped to travel to Miami to make their professional debuts at boxing matches today.

They then plan to move to Germany, he added.

''We can confirm that three Cuban boxers were denied a visa,'' said State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez.

''The law places the burden of proof on the applicant to prove that they have strong ties to their country or place of residence that would compel them to leave the US at the end of their temporary stay,'' Vasquez added.

Gonzalez said the State Department had placed the men in a ''Catch 22'' situation by requiring them to prove that they had ties outside the United States, something that was difficult for them as recent defectors.

However, he said the men had signed a three-year contract with a German company that would pay them at least $1 million each and that required them to live and train in Germany.

The State Department said the men could file new visa applications and Gonzalez said they would do so. Their Miami boxing matches have been rescheduled for March 2, he said.

REUTERS AY KN1012