Irish boxer Michael O'Reilly is set to appeal a four year ban for a doping offence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 2015 world bronze medal winner tested positive for the banned methandienone less than a month before he was due to compete at the Rio Olympics and Sport Ireland confirmed the suspension last evening.
O'Reilly insists he unintentionally took the substance as part of a supplement called 'Falcon Labs Superdrive Testobooster Tech'.
But Sport Ireland say he didn't provide adequate evidence during a 'consultation process' to show his violation was unintentional.
The 24-year-old's ban runs until July 11th 2020, which would rule him out of qualifying for the Tokyo Games and would effectively end his amateur boxing career.
Michael O'Reilly with his family and former IABA President Pat Ryan
INPHO/Tommy Dickson
The Portlaoise clubman's coach and former IABA President Pat Ryan has confirmed O'Reilly's intention to appeal to the Irish Independent.
“Michael did not intentionally or knowingly ingest one supplement. The sanction was most certainly warranted regardless of the innocent, careless or reckless mistake he made. He received a four-year ban.
“Michael has said will be appealing the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as he feels it is disproportionate and that it is extremely severe. The one supplement that Michael took was a prohibited substance and was not an illegal substance.”
