GB wrestling allocation cut to one

Only one British wrestler will compete at the London 2012 Games after the British Olympic Association ruled that the sport had not reached the necessary performance standards.

Wrestling had initially been offered three host-nation places but only Ukrainian-born Olga Butkevych, who received a UK passport in February, will represent Team GB in the women's under-55kg.

The two other hopefuls, Oleksandr Madyarchyk, also Ukraine-born, and Leon Rattigan, failed to reach the necessary standard.

A BOA statement said: "The Olympic Qualification Standards (OQS) Panel concluded that British Wrestling had not met the performance standard it had proposed, and agreed, with the BOA in 2011.

"In light of this, the OQS Panel determined that it would award only one host nation qualification place, rather than the three that had been requested by British Wrestling, and that place will be in the women's under-55 kg weight category.

"The OQS Panel also determined that more work needs to be done in order to ensure a meaningful post-Games legacy for wrestling, including much greater emphasis on increasing participation at the grass-roots level in the UK and a clear performance plan to qualify athletes by right for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games."

British Wrestling has been criticised for trying to bring in foreign athletes - so-called Plastic Brits - who then obtain UK passports through residency or marriage.