Ioan and Garan Croft: Welsh twins quit GB boxing squad five months before Olympics

Twins Ioan and Garan Croft have left the Great Britain podium squad five months before the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 22-year-old Welsh pair's move was announced by Welsh Boxing.

On social media Ioan stated it was "time for us to move to the next chapter of our boxing careers".

Welsh Boxing head of performance Adam Park said: "Everyone at Welsh Boxing would like to thank Garan and Ioan for their immense contribution to the Performance Programme."

Park added: "Whilst we are sad to see both leave the GB Boxing Programme at this point in the Olympic cycle we wish them nothing but success in their future endeavours.

"They have acted with professionalism throughout their time in the programme and have always made time for the next generation coming through the programme."

Welsh Boxing also stated: "After six senior Major Championship medals between them, the Croft twins have decided to leave the GB Boxing Podium Squad.

"A journey they started together at Cardigan ABC under the tutelage of their dad Guy Croft has come to a close."

The move comes after the twins' path to Paris became more unclear in recent months.

A change to the Olympic weight classes meant they would both have to compete in the 71kg category, meaning only one of them would get to go.

In order to qualify one brother would have needed to beat the other and the twins have spoken in the past about never wanting to fight each other.

Neither of the Croft twins were selected for the Olympic qualifying event in Italy next month to compete for the spot in the Team GB squad, with Lewis Richardson picked instead.