Sydney2000: Unfit Ghanaian Boxer Sent Home

Two African boxers missed out on competing at the Sydney Olympics Thursday - one for arriving late while the other failed a medical examination.

Lightweight Kakonga Jesus Kibande of the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived too late Thursday after missing his original flight and was ruled out of the tournament by the governing body AIBA.

Middleweight James Toney of Ghana was later ruled out after a medical examination, AIBA said.

International Amateur Boxing Association secretary general Loring Baker said that Kibunde had missed the required medical examination and weigh-in and was subsequently scratched from the boxing tournament.

Boxing competition manager Paul Thompson said Thursday there would be no exemption from AIBA's decision for extenuating circumstances.

Meanwhile, Australian boxing team was devastated Thursday when their light-flyweight Bradley Hore failed to make the 48 kilogram weight category for the Sydney Olympics.

Team manager Peter Rogers said the 18-year-old was one kilogram over his designated weight and it was decided 10 minutes before the official weigh-in Thursday not to go through the weighing procedure.

"That's the end of the Olympics for him, the boy's devastated, we're devastated," said Rogers.

Rogers said Hore was devastated not to fight in his home Olympics and that the decision had been relayed to the Australian Olympic Committee.

Rogers said Australian team chef de mission John Coates had confirmed that Hore will stay with the team during the course of the Olympics and would march with the Australian team at Friday's Opening Ceremony.

Thursday's blow continues a troubled build-up to the Olympics for the Australian team with reports of disunity and dissension among the team.

There were reports the team was split in two with some members not speaking to each other and others refusing to co-operate with coach Bodo An-dreass.

The boxing competition commences on Sat-urday.