The 18-year-old Hertfordshire welterweight, who was knocked out of the competition in Beijing last week, learned on his return home that he had been banned by the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) for alleged lewd behaviour.

 

It is believed that the alleged incident happened during a training camp earlier in the year and involved a video of a sexual nature being posted on YouTube.

 

The video has since been removed.

 

Clegg said: “The Amateur Boxing Association choosing to yesterday to issue Billy Joe Saunders with a suspension relating to an incident which happened months before the Beijing Olympic Games is extremely disappointing. 

 

"Releasing such allegations to the media at this time could prove detrimental to the critical preparations of the other three boxers who will be contesting to reach the final of the boxing competition tomorrow.

 

"We are frustrated that our athletes and the boxing coaching team will have to deal with this added pressure and distraction at this point in the Games. 

 

"Nobody involved with boxing should be distracting the team at this time.

 

"Not since the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 has Team GB won three boxing medals, and the achievements of James DeGale, Tony Jeffries and David Price in reaching the semi-finals and thus guaranteeing at least three bronze medals is fantastic.   

 

"Team GB will ensure that the boxing team have every support necessary over the next few days to be able to focus on the job in hand.”

 

Terry Edwards, the boxing team's head coach, said that he would maintain his focus on trying to ensure DeGale, Jeffries and Price were fully prepared for their next bouts so they could challenge for a gold medal.

 

Nevertheless this has been a difficult Games for Edwards, who suffered criticism on the eve of the opening ceremony when world champion and gold medal favourite Frankie Gavin had to be withdrawn because he failed to make the weight.

 

He suspects that he is a victim of a conspiracy to unseat him from his position.

 

Edwards said: "I feel extremely disillusioned that I have learnt of the suspension of one of my boxers from the media.

 

"Above all though, I am so sad that this, together with the other allegations made, have been raised to distract and unsettle me, the coaching team, and more importantly my boxers ahead of the most important bouts of their lives."

 

The build-up to these Games has been dogged by controversy over funding, rows over fighters turning professional and governance issues that saw the intervention of UK Sport.

 

Yet Edwards has still produced a successful programme.

 

He said: "Over the past four years I have put together a boxing programme which has produced the best ever Commonwealth Games results, three World Championship medallists, the most qualifiers for the Olympic Games since 1992, and the most Olympic medal winners since 1972. 

 

"But more importantly I have tried to instil in my team a respect for themselves and others, and a sense of pride in competing for their country. 

 

"I will thoroughly address all allegations made when I get back to the UK. 

 

"Right now, I have three boxers who are fighting to win gold medals for Team GB, and I will not allow anything to distract my lads from what they need to do in the ring.”