Billy Joe Saunders suspended by ABAE by Jonny Callender Aug 21st 2008

Reports have been circulating concerning the suspension of British Olympian Billy Joe Saunders by the Amateur Boxing Association of England. It is believed that the Hoddesdon welterweight returned home from Beijing, where he lost out to hot favourite Carlos Banteaux of Cuba in the pre-quarters, to find a letter from the ABA issuing his suspension. Telegraph.co.uk reports that Billy Joe had been seen on a video (posted on youtube.com) ‘confronting a French woman in an inappropriate manner' whilst he was away with the British boxing team. Head GB boxing coach Terry Edwards has expressed his annoyance and frustration about the timing of the suspension and the way in which the issue is being dealt with stating; “The allegations made in the media about the conduct of athletes on the British Boxing Programme are, on the whole, unfounded. "I feel extremely disillusioned that I have learnt of the suspension of one of my boxers from the media. "Above all though, I am so sad that this, together with the other allegations made, have been raised to distract and unsettle me, the coaching team, and more importantly my boxers ahead of the most important bouts of their lives." Indeed, the timing of the suspension seems altogether distracting and disruptive to the British Boxing team, who still have three members contesting for silver (possibly gold) medals at the Games.

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