AS THE Commonwealth Games opens in Glasgow tonight, Wales' medal chances took another battering yesterday.

While injury has claimed the likes of Gwent cycling star Becky James and triathlon star Helen Jenkins, the Welsh team has also been hit by the suspension of 800m runner Gareth Warburton over alleged doping offences.

And yesterday came the news that boxer Fred Evans, a silver medallist at the London Olympics, was out of the team after having his Games accreditation refused following Home Office checks.

The refusal follows Evans being convicted earlier this year for his part in an assault at a Birmingham nightclub.

It would appear the Welsh team was aware of the problems the conviction could cause for Evans, formerly a member of the St Joseph's club in Newport, but persisted in keeping him in the boxing squad.

Welsh boxing chiefs say they have been fighting a battle to get Evans's place in their team approved for the last three weeks.

Perhaps commendably, they say sport should be a vehicle for rehabilitation and that they wanted Evans to use his sport to improve his lifestyle.

In hindsight, that looks like a bad decision - particularly as Wales' star boxer is now out of the Games just 24 hours before they are due to start.

It is a last-minute embarrassment for Welsh sport and another Commonwealth medal hope down the drain.

Let's hope things get better for Wales over the next couple of weeks.