Lazarowicz steps in to give Mhura an Olympic lifeline

FUNDO MHURA'S passport woes could soon be over after his British Olympic team boss relaxed the deadline for the Edinburgh boxer to sort out his application.

Mhura, Britain's No.1 rated amateur middleweight, was told he would be axed from the British Olympic team if he did not get a valid passport before July 16. However, team manager Terry Edwards today said he was happy to wait after Edinburgh North and Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz stepped in to help Mhura's application.

The move means Mhura, who was born in Malawi but came to this country as a baby, will be able to fight for Scotland at the Commonwealth Federation Games in Liverpool on July 24.

Edwards said: "The July deadline is not set in stone and I can confirm that we will gladly extend it to help Fundo keep his Olympic boxing team place provided his passport is issued within a few weeks from now.

"But the statement by Mhura's MP Mr Lazarowicz suggests that his passport will be issued sooner rather than later so I can confirm that the deadline has been extended by at least several weeks.''

Mr Lazarowicz has told Mhura he will pull out all the stops to ensure a passport is issued as soon as possible. Mhura competed for Malawi at last year's Commonwealth Games after failing to get a British passport.