Rule which bans McCracken only agreed a fortnight ago
The rule which has led to Great Britain's amateur boxing coach having his licence pulled was only approved two weeks ago.
Robert McCracken was told earlier this week that a rule of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) barred any amateur coach from working simultaneously with professional boxers. McCracken has a current and long-standing working relationship with Nottingham's WBC super-middleweight champion, Carl Froch.
The relevant statute, number 12.3.1 of the official AIBA Technical and Competition Rules, states, "Any coach active in professional boxing shall not be allowed to be a coach and/or second in both AIBA and/or WSB [World Series of Boxing] competitions... unless the coach resigns from any involvement in professional boxing for a period of at least six months..."
On Tuesday, AIBA chief executive Ho Kim claimed the rule was in place when McCracken was offered the role of Team GB's Performance Director in 2009 and that he got the job improperly by not stating his professional links.
In fact, the rule was not agreed by the AIBA until 24th March this year.
An AIBA spokesman revealed to the BBC, "I can confirm it is a new rule which was ratified last month. It is unfortunate for the affected parties but if they begin the process now they can still be in the corner for the Olympic Games."
The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has deteriorated in recent months following the ABAE Chief Executive Paul King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu.
Further, it is believed the upper echelons of the AIBA were not enamoured by London not securing a team for the amateur body's foray into professionalism via the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
There is some confusion over the role McCracken could retain whilst coaching Froch; it has been suggested that the Birmingham trainer could coach the amateurs but not corner for them.
Even if McCracken walked away from Froch tomorrow - hardly likely given their long and successful partnership and the fact that Froch is entering the business end of Showtime's Super Six tournament - he would still miss September's World Championships in Azerbaijan as a six-month hiatus would take place before his amateur licence was reinstated.
The British Olympic Association says it will investigate the matter. "We will be seeking clarification about the new rule and its sudden inclusion," said a BOA spokesperson. "We need to understand how and why this is being applied.
"We are very concerned as this new rule could have a considerable impact on the performance of our male and female boxers at the London 2012 Olympic Games."
