The 25-year-old triple world champion has been hit with the sanction but has denied that it is due to several acts of indiscipline. 

Dyeing your hair is against the rules of the Cuban Boxing Federation, with Álvarez claiming he did it for religious reasons.

However, he said his protest to coach Rolando Acebal fell on deaf ears.

"I tried to explain politely, in moderation, but he never believed me," he said according to the Guerrillero newspaper.

"I even proposed to have a meeting with the athletes to explain that it was for a certain time and did not create negative situations in the team, but [he] did not want to."

As well as being taken off the Cuban national team, Álvarez has been removed from a list of best Cuban athletes of the year.

He won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics in August in the lightweight division, after winning the same colour at bantamweight at London 2012.

"One thing is that I have been sanctioned for this, which has nothing to do with all the results I had previously," he said.

Álvarez, a member of the Cuba Domadores squad which won the World Series of Boxing title last season, has now reportedly removed the hair dye and has continued training.

The Cuban Boxing Federation are yet to provide a statement.