Amy Broadhurst: World champion wants GB switch from Ireland in bid to make Paris Games

World champion Amy Broadhurst is seeking to switch allegiance from Ireland to Great Britain in a bid to qualify for the Paris Games.

Broadhurst said she was informed by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) that she would not be competing in an Olympic qualifier next month.

The IABA said they were were contacted by GB Boxing on behalf of Broadhurst.

It added that she "intends to seek a change of nationality in a bid to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games".

"We have discussed this with OFI and Sport Ireland and have expressed our disappointment, while wanting to ensure that she understands the full ramifications of this request and the advice she might be receiving if she decides to go ahead with it.

"We have indicated that if she really thinks that this is best for her as a person and an athlete after these discussions we will not stand in her way."

BBC Sport NI understands that should the transfer be ratified by the IOC, then Broadhurst will attempt to be selected at 60kg [lightweight] a weight category in which Ireland's Kellie Harrington is the current Olympic champion.

Broadhurst, a World, European and Commonwealth Games champion said earlier this week that the IABA informed her that she will not be assessed for the second World Qualifying tournament, which is due to take place at the end of May in Bangkok.

According to Broadhurst, the High Performance Unit wanted to assess the 27-year-old and another world champion, Lisa O'Rourke, for the upcoming European Championships in Serbia instead of sending them to Thailand, where Grainne Walsh is set to be selected.

Broadhurst told BBC Sport NI that she would not be assessed for the European Championships and was resigned to the fact that she would not represent Ireland at the Paris Games.

"It's a bit of a mess and I'm struggling to wrap my head around what is going on," she said.

"I've let my psychologist know to let them know that I won't be up in the high performance centre for the foreseeable future, and I'll be really thinking about not going back up at all."