The 22-year-old 2008 Olympic bronze medallist from Belfast had planned to resist overtures to leave amateur boxing until after the London 2012 Games.

But now the light-flyweight faces the prospect of a five-year ban from the sport after reacting badly to his 15-4 defeat against Kenya's Peter Mungai in Milan, including making an obscene hand justice.

It could persaude him to turn professional, Irish officials fear.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) sent him home and have warned him he could face further disciplinary action.

Barnes, who apologised to his team-mates before leaving the Italian city, must hope that the swift action may help him avoid a long suspension.

If he is unavailable it would also be a big blow to the hopes of Northern Ireland's hopes at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Paul McMahon, the President of Ulster Boxing, said:  
“I know Paddy is a fiery character and that's one of the reasons he's so successful.

"He has misbehaved at the Olympics, misbehaved at the World Championships so he needs some help with controlling his emotions and we would be prepared to help him with that.
 

“At the moment the issue is not with us because he is under the charge of the [Ireland] High Performance Unit.

I would hope that he wouldn't be banned because the Irish president Dominic O'Rourke has acted very quickly and sent him home.

"He has acknowledged the seriousness of the matter.

“If he is banned it would be a big blow for us because we have already lost one of the best in the world to the professional ranks in Carl Frampton and with the Commonwealth Championships coming up and the Commonwealth Games a ban could put him out of both of those.”


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September 2009: Irish Olympic medallist faces ban from London 2012 after being sent home in shame