Michael O’Reilly unlikely to clear name in time for Olympic fight

Boxing chiefs have conceded that suspended fighter Michael O’Reilly is unlikely to clear his name in time to make his first bout following a failed doping test.

Michael Carruth, development officer with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and Olympic champion, said the obstacles O’Reilly faced were “too big” to expect him to make the ring on Friday.

The 23-year-old middleweight from Portlaoise Boxing Club formally lodged an appeal against his suspension over the weekend and is understood to be arguing that his use of the banned substance, discovered in a doping test carried out just before his departure for Rio, was an innocent mistake.