A Duncanville Olympic boxer says he was forced to make a choice between his family and his country.

Luis Yanez says he has been removed from the United States Olympic boxing team for choosing family.

Now the 19-year-old is fighting for his Olympic dream.

"It's real important to me, it's real important to my family, but also it's important to this team, I’m not by myself, my team is behind me," he says.

USA Boxing removed Yanez, the team's captain, from the team for violation of the athlete code of conduct.

It all comes after his three week absence from training in Colorado Springs, Colo. last month. Time, Yanez says he took, to help take care of his sister, who was in drug rehab in North Texas.

"My family is getting better, the situation is getting better," he says.

His trainers say Yanez last fought with the Olympic team on May 31.

They say he received special permission from USA Boxing to fly to Dallas to be with his sister, but was told to return June 8. Instead, he flew back June 29.

"You can't just corner someone and expect them to make a choice between their family and someone else," says his coach, Dennis Rodarte.

Yanez has appealed the decision and Team USA will conduct a hearing within a week.

"They didn't even try to acknowledge his situation; they didn't want to hear nothing,” says his trainer, Hector Beltran.

So Yanez, with his lightning jab, wonders if his Olympic dreams have been knocked out.

"Hopefully we can put everything behind us, and work hard, push ourselves and get some gold medals," Yanez says.