Boxing: Ireland's top amateur boxer Andy Lee is no longer receiving funding from the Irish Sports Council as one of the country's high performance athletes.
Irish boxers are currently preparing intensively for next month's World Championships in China.
The Limerick middleweight, who has not yet signed a professional contact with legendary US trainer Emmanuel Stewart but is expected to do so, last took part in the amateur scene in Ireland at a Four Nations competition in March.
While there has been a lot of speculation over the fighter and what exactly his next move will be, he has absented himself from the amateur scene and any Government funding. As a matter of course the Sports Council looks at its carding scheme on a quarterly basis and in every sport athletes have to be accountable to the performance managers. In the case of boxing the manager is Gary Keegan.
In essence athletes must stay in contact with managers and keep them aware of their movements if only to be available for the regular doping controls carried out by the Sports Council and others.
Lee has been to the famous Kronk Gym in Detroit, USA, several times and has been at ringside for a number of high-profile professional bouts, where he recently met promoter Don King.
Steward was so sure of signing the St Francis southpaw over the summer he included his name on a fight card for the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, on August 13th. But Lee has yet to step into a ring as a professional.
The 21-year-old was given one of the best deals of any Irish athlete by the Sports Council. Unveiled last January, the package involved a grant worth €19,500, an education subvention of €3,000 and a medal win bonus. Lee would have had next month's World Championships in China, two European Championships, another World Championships and the Olympic Games in Beijing to top up his worth.
"When he was with us he was a complete professional in everything he did and how he went about his preparation," said Keegan. "Nothing will change there. I'm sure of that. Andy has done a very, very good job for us from juniors right up to seniors."
While Lee is said to be dropping from middleweight to light middleweight (73kg) in the professional ranks, Darren Sutherland has stepped into his shoes in the Irish team. The 23-year-old, who has twice won gold medals in international events, will box at middleweight in next month's World Championships.
