TWO young tae kwon do stars have had their dreams of representing their country shattered after being suspended by the sports' controlling body.

Katie Wallace, 21, and Kris Martin, 16, were hoping to take part in selection trials for the Olympics and European Championships, in Darlington, on Sunday.

But the pair's hopes of representing Great Britain are in shreds after the British Tae Kwon Do Control Board (BTCB) banned them from competing.

The martial arts exponents, who were the only North-East competitors in with a chance of a shot at the Olympics, have been left "devastated and confused" by the board's decision.

Katie, of South Cleatlam, County Durham, said: "I cannot believe that we have been told just a week before the competition that we can't take part.

"We have both been in training for the championships for seven months.

"I received a call on Sunday from the board and they said that we were not allowed to fight, but we have not been told why. They said we would find out on March 31, but by then it's too late.

"We are both absolutely gutted. All we want to do is represent our country."

The two fighters have more than 17 years tae kwon do experience between them and have been official members of the BTCB since 1998.

Kris, of Emley Moor Road, Darlington, has won a bronze medal at the World Festival in Korea, and Katie has won gold at the Paris Open Championship.

In order to take part in the European Championships, which are being held at the Dolphin Centre, competitors have to be members of the association.

Vice-chairman of the BTCB, Adrian Tranter, confirmed that the pair had been suspended from the competition but shed little light on the reasons why.

He said: "Their membership has been suspended until the executive committee meets to consider it at the end of March.

"They are not fulfilling the criteria of membership. I am not going to discuss the details. It is a membership department matter."

Katie and Kris claim they have never been informed of the criteria in the four years since they joined