Rio Olympics: Irish boxer Michael O’Reilly will appeal after failed drugs test ahead of Games opening ceremony this evening
IRISH boxer Michael O’Reilly will appeal his positive drugs test – with just hours to go to the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The 23-year-old middleweight was due to fight next Friday in the round of 16 of the Games tournament.
Michael O’Reilly celebrates winning gold at the European Games in BakuMichael ONeill won gold at the European Games in Baku last yearMichael ONeill on his way to gold in Baku
He was given a provisional suspension after testing positive on a sample taken by the Irish Sports Council.
O’Reilly has the right to appeal but only has a week to do so with any potential career in the pros after fighting at the Games potentially in the balance.
He bizarrely tweeted – and then deleted his post – claiming he would be in action in the first round of the boxing as scheduled, even though he is suspended.
The post said: “Box on the 12th in the last 16 against the winner of Mexico or Iraq…”
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Irish boxing captain at London 2012 Darren O’Neill (no relation) told RTE: “It’s just a disappointing outcome. Not just for boxers there but the likes of myself, Kenneth Egan and Adam Nolan who have been doing this for many years.
“For Billy Wales who built it up and to be honest even for IABA President Pat Ryan who had been coaching Michael O’Reilly and would have been training Michael right up until the last week they went away.”
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