BABN Exclusive: Team GB ignored weight warning by Kevin Taylor Aug 8th 2008

As Frankie Gavin's Olympic dream lies shattered like a plate in a Greek restaurant after Team GB sent him home after finally realising that he couldn't make the 60kg weight limit, it has emerged that fellow Olympian Joe Murray also nearly saw his Olympic dream derailed due to problems with making the weight. Murray, 21, bronze medallist at the World Championships and the first of the British squad to qualify for the Beijing games, collapsed on the scales at the AIBA President's cup in Taiwan in May, injuring his knee in the process. Murray, younger brother of British lightweight champion John, still competed but was forced to retire at the end of the first round of his 1st round fight and has had five weeks of physiotherapy since the incident and has not boxed since, missing two events in Europe. Joe's trainer Joe Gallagher said last night, "Joe had to fight at his own weight division of 54kg, although we wanted to fight in the higher division as most lads have done in tournaments prior to the Olympics. "This could have scuppered Joe's chances of making the Olympics. Since he came back we have brought in Kerry Kayes to help with the nutritional side of things and Joe has prepared well for the games. "The nutritionist of team GB has made Joe sign a declaration form though saying they don't agree with him using CNP products, despite an announcement that they also sent Frankie Gavin to see Kayes in June. Unfortunately, it was too late for Kayes to help Frankie." Last night the government announced they would be launching an inquiry into Gavin's inability to make the weight for Beijing, but Gallagher doesn't hold out much hope of them coming to a conclusion. "They said they would hold an inquiry into the events in Taiwan, but we are still waiting." Gallagher also insisted that the boxers should have their own coaches with them as they prepare for the biggest tournament of their lives. "I have no doubts that if Frankie had had long term trainer Tom Chaney with him that he would have made the weight. We know the kids inside out and should be allowed to go with them to mentor them. "They are sending three young kids over to acclimatize for the 2012 London Games, no disrespect to them but who knows what they will be doing in 2012, they could be hoodies by then. The money would have been better used by letting the coaches go. "These are young kids away from home and they should be looked after." Gallagher will be in Beijing to offer his support to his young charge. "Most of them have had no media training and been thrust into the media circus of the Olympics. Look at the things Frankie Gavin was saying about the ABA a couple of weeks ago, that was not ideal preparation for the games. I took Joe to watch the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight so that he could get a taste of what a big event was like." So now the "Fabulous Eight" are down to the 'Magnificent Seven'. Joe is one of our big medal hopes in Beijing and all at BBN hope he can crown a fantastic year for the Murray boys (Joe's elder brother John became British lightweight champion in July) by bringing home a medal.

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