An Irish boxer scheduled to compete at this summer's Olympics has been provisionally suspended for failing a drugs test.
The boxer, who has not been named, tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in a test that was not carried out at the Games.
With just over a day to go until the opening ceremony in Rio, the accused athlete is now unable to compete or train, but can appeal or have his B-sample tested.
"The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has been notified by Sport Ireland today of an alleged violation of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules committed by one of the boxers in our High Performance Unit. In following the strict procedures applying to an adverse analytical finding, the athlete in question has been informed and is provisionally suspended," read a statement from the IABA.
"The boxer can request to have a 'B' sample tested but cannot participate in any competition or activity prior to the completion of an investigation under Article 8 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has always maintained a zero-tolerance approach to doping and Irish Boxing has been one of the most widely tested sports by the National Anti-Doping Programme over the last number of years.
"IABA's policy is that doping is contrary to the spirit of sport and every member of the association has a duty to ensure that the sport is free of doping. We ensure our boxers are available for testing in and out of competition."
The Olympic Council of Ireland also released a statement saying: "The Olympic Council of Ireland can confirm that the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Agency has returned an adverse analytical finding in an A-sample provided to anti-doping officers.
"The finding relates to a test not conducted at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The athlete has been provisionally suspended from competition and can take part in no sports activity, including training, in accordance with the WADA Code.
"The athlete will now decide whether to accept a sanction for a doping violation, to request that a B-sample be tested, or to appeal the provisional suspension. No further communication will be made on the matter and the athlete's identity will remain confidential unless the sanction is accepted or the B-sample is tested and also returns an adverse analytical finding."
Boxing is Ireland's most successful sport at the Olympics having provided 16 of their 29 medals.
