A prominent member of the British Olympic rugby sevens team pulled out of the competition on Tuesday due to a controversy involving racism, triggered by a photograph showing her with her face blackened. The British Olympic Association announced it had initiated an inquiry into the matter involving Amy Wilson-Hardy after the photograph surfaced on social media late Monday. The image, which was circulated via a WhatsApp message and extensively reported by British media, depicted the 32-year-old with her face blackened and her tongue protruding. A caption beneath the image read: "Thought I'd have a better chance with the blacks." The intended meaning behind this statement was not immediately discernible. Wilson-Hardy was notably absent during Britain's encounter with China at the Stade de France, a match that ended in a surprising 19-15 victory for China. A statement from Team GB indicated that she had been removed from the lineup for medical reasons, with Abi Burton taking her place. Captain Emma Uren mentioned that the team was largely unaware of the allegations and was concentrating on their performance. "We didn't get much information about it because we need to focus on the game and the tournament," she explained, noting that a ban on mobile phones was enforced within the squad. "It's quite shocking when something like this emerges during an Olympic campaign," she acknowledged. Coach Ciaran Beattie avoided commenting on the controversy, stating, "We're just focused on playing rugby right now." This incident compounds the challenges faced by the GB rugby sevens team, following the men's failure to qualify for the Olympics after a defeat by South Africa. The women's team, which had high hopes for a medal, was eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing 17-7 to the United States. The defeat by China adds to their difficulties, forcing them into a match for seventh place against Ireland. This match was marked by a critical error from Isla Norman-Bell, who intentionally threw the ball out of bounds, expecting the referee to end the game. Instead, this action awarded a penalty to China, and Hu Yu scored during additional time, dealing a crushing blow to the British team.