The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) were forced to apologise to world governing body AIBA's officials for the Belfast fighter's behaviour after he was surprisingly beaten 15-4 by Kenya's Peter Mungai.

The 22-year-old light-flyweight kicked one of his gloves out of the ring after being well beaten by the little-regarded Mungai and had to be restrained by Irish coach Billy Walsh.

Barnes was then asked to leave the ring by the referee but continued to vent his frustration, including making an obscene hand gesture.

Dominic O'Rourke, the President of the IABA, met Barnes afterwards to tell him he was being sent home.

He said: "Paddy's behaviour was totally unacceptable.

"He has been disciplined and sent home and there will be further disciplinary procedures when we get home.

"It is all right being annoyed at a decision but the way Paddy reacted was inexcusable and to do it in the ring on a world stage is just terrible.

"He could now face discipline from the world body but I just hope that the fact we have acted so swiftly to discipline him will help.

"But they are very tough on discipline and particularly with the whole world watching."

Barnes had reacted in a similar fashion after being beaten in the 15-0 in semi-finals of the Olympics in Beijing last year by China's Zou Shiming and having to settle for a bronze medal.

He was so upset with the standard of officiating, claiming that the judges had missed punches he had landed, he demanded that they be drugs-tested.

Barnes escaped any discipline on that occasion but is unlikely to be so lucky this time and could be banned for up to five years, which would include missing the 2012 Olympics in London.

Walsh said: "All week so many people have been talking about how well the Irish lads have been performing and now they are talking about all the wrong things because of what Paddy has done.

"There's no excuse for what he did.

"From 10 years of age you are told that this sport is all about discipline and respecting your opponent.

"Paddy has damaged the image of the sport.

"There was a real threat that the whole team could have been thrown out."


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