U.K. Rugby Star Withdraws From Olympics After Blackface Photo Surfaces

U.K. rugby star Amy Wilson-Hardy has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics after a photo emerged of her wearing blackface.

On Tuesday (July 30), Team Great Britain announced that Wilson-Hardy, a key player on their Olympic rugby sevens team, had "been withdrawn on medical grounds," per CBS News .

The withdrawal came after a picture of Wilson-Hardy sticking her tongue out with a blackened face emerged on social media . The image was reportedly sent in a WhatsApp message with the caption "Thought I'd have a better chance with the blacks."

The British Olympic Association said it launched an investigation into Wilson-Hardy.

Rugby captain Emma Uren said the players were focusing on the games amid the racism controversy.

"We didn't get told much about it because we know we need to focus on the game and the tournament," she said, noting that a phone ban was placed on the squad. "It's quite a surprise when something like that springs up in the middle of an Olympic campaign."

Coach Ciaran Beattie echoed Uren's sentiments.

"We're just playing rugby right now. We're concentrating on that," Beattie said.

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