Thailand's boxing silver medalist at the Athens Olympics has now been banned from competing for three months after he was spotted on the cover of a local gay mag.

Cover star: Worapoj PetchkhoonWorapoj Petchkhoon appeared in his undies for the cover photo and inside the latest issue of Stage magazine - but later claimed he didn't realise his photoshoot was for a gay publication.

"I did not know the magazine would turn out this way," the boxer said. "I thought it would be an ordinary fashion shoot. I am straight, with a girlfriend, but the news has upset my family.

"Since the magazine appeared, another two gay titles have offered me work, but I turned them down. I meant to show my six pack - not my private parts."

The President of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand said that while the pictures weren't 'obscene', they "tarnished the reputation" of the nation's Olympians.

Petchkhoon will be forced to miss the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December. He laments: "I regret what happened and would like to apologise to boxing fans. It is one of those life lessons – next time I shall have to be more careful."

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