Edwards accuses ABA of trying to 'undermine' GB boxers

Terry Edwards reacted furiously today to the news that one of his Olympic boxers, Billy Joe Saunders, has been suspended by the Amateur Boxing Association.

The head coach claimed that the move by the ABA had been done deliberately to undermine his work with fighters David Price, James DeGale and Tony Jeffries, who are all competing in semi-finals tomorrow.

Saunders has been suspended over allegations of lewd behaviour at a pre-Games training camp in France. The 18-year-old welterweight, beaten in the second round of competition last week, is now facing a disciplinary hearing.

Edwards said: "I feel extremely disillusioned that I have learnt of the suspension of one of my boxers from the media. I am so sad that this, together with the other allegations made, have been raised to distract and unsettle me, the coaching team, and my boxers ahead of the most important bouts of their lives."

Edwards has the backing of funding body UK Sport, who took control of the management of Olympic boxing two years ago but he has critics within the ABA. The national federation are understood to want to take back control of Olympic boxing in the run-up to the 2012 Games in a move which would be opposed by UK Sport.

The British Olympic Association's Chef de Mission Simon Clegg backed Edwards today and said he was extremely disappointed about the developments.