British amateur boxing chiefs today promised to launch a major inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Frankie Gavin's shattering exit from the Olympic Games.

Great Britain head coach Terry Edwards insisted he took the agonising decision to pull out lightweight gold medal favourite Gavin on the eve of the Beijing draw because of serious fears for his fighter's health.

But the timing of the withdrawal is being questioned with Gavin's battle to make the weight having been well documented long before he became Britain's first world amateur champion in Chicago in November.

Amateur Boxing Association chief executive Paul King said: "We will launch an internal investigation into the circumstances leading up to this withdrawal, which is a massive blow to our gold medal hopes and to our essential UK Sport and lottery funding.

"I am very disappointed on behalf of the ABA of England, who no longer have direct international contact with Frankie as he now boxes under the GB programme and the guidance of head coach Terry Edwards."

Edwards defended the timing of his decision, insisting Gavin had to be given every chance to hit the target until it became evident that even if he had tipped the scales at 60kg it could prove detrimental to his health.

Edwards said: "Frankie has been struggling at the weight all year but we were confident he would get it down. He struggled to make the weight at the world championships in November but went on to make history.

"It was obvious to me that Frankie was empty and I had the thankless task of telling him it was over. I felt there would have been a serious health risk."

It became clear in recent weeks that all was not well with Gavin who was late returning to the team's training camp in Sheffield last month, and this week Gavin hit out at the lack of help provided by the ABA and he may now decide to turn professional.

Gavin's Hall Green amateur coach Tommy Chaney and nutritional adviser Kerry Kayes also expressed their surprise and disappointment, with Kayes maintaining Gavin had been on the weight when he left for Macau last week.