Boxing coach on scales 'pandemonium'

The official weigh-in for the boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games has been put back until Tuesday after complaints the test scales were faulty.

Australia raised concerns over the official scales after one of their fighters was deemed overweight.

Several boxers were left shedding weight to reach desired categories.

Australian spokesman John Gatfield said: "They went to the sauna trying to lose weight and when they came back weighed more than the last reading."

The scales will be recalibrated for the weigh-in to take place on the morning of the opening bouts.

Gatfield added: "There was a lot of chaos there and they have decided to have a second weigh-in Tuesday morning. It was really ridiculous."

One of Australia's boxers due to fight in the 102kg category was found to be three kilograms overweight.

JOHN BEATTIE'S BLOG Boxers actually went away, tried to lose weight, and came back heavier. Someone produced a 50kg weight and it weighed 51.4 kgs

"He struggles to make it to the 102kg category back in Australia, but he weighed 105kg here," said Gatfield.

"Maybe something is not right with the official scales, too."

However, competition manager Lenni Gama has denied there is any problem with the scales, saying: "All this fuss is created by the teams who have overweight boxers in their team. The scales are perfect."

England's boxers missed the controversy at the Talkatora Stadium.

Head coach Rob McCracken said: "We were one of the later arrivals so it didn't affect us. It is unfortunate and we hope the scales are properly calibrated for tomorrow so we have no worries."

The build-up to the Delhi Games was hit by infrastructure failures, a dengue fever outbreak, security fears after a tourist shooting and a collapsed pedestrian footbridge near the main stadium.

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