American bantamweight Gary Russell Jr will miss the Beijing Olympics after collapsing while struggling to make his weight, US team coach Dan Campbell told reporters yesterday.

The 20-year-old Russell was removed from the US team's list of competitors before yesterday's draw for the tournament, which starts today.

"Medically, he's been cleared, he's now resting," Campbell said. "He's extremely depressed."

After a work-out in a last attempt to make his weight class's 54-kg limit, Russell was found unconscious by his room-mate Luis Yanez early yesterday, Campbell said.

Russell was rehydrated by medical staff at the athletes' village and checks showed his condition was not serious but he was ruled not healthy enough to take part in yesterday's mandatory weigh-in.

"It's been extremely hot and that probably played a part," Campbell said. "We'd noticed in training he was not sweating the way he should.

"When trying to make weight, these kids sometimes cut corners. We believe he did not increase his fluid intake the way we had told him to."

Twice a national champion and a bronze medallist at the 2005 world championships, Russell was regarded as a medal prospect.