THREE members of the Ugandan boxing team have been arrested, on suspicion of trying to pass counterfeit $100 bills.

But police could not confirm newspaper reports that the three were trying to buy women's underwear when detained at the shopping mall in Gainesville, northeast of Atlanta.

A spokesman for Gainesville police named the three as boxers Kizza Bakule Charles and Franco Ogentho, who were with boxing coach Dick Katdende.

The three were turned over to the American secret service which is now investigating the case.