The British Olympic Association are investigating after a post which appears to show a women’s rugby star making a racist comment was posted on Instagram.
Officials are looking into a screengrab of a WhatsApp conversation which allegedly involves Team GB and England forward Amy Wilson-Hardy and an unnamed third party.
Within it, there is a picture of the 32-year-old, who looks like she is wearing a dark-coloured facemask.
The third party writes underneath: ’genuine chocolate face’, which prompts the response as cited by Sports Central: ‘Thought I’d have a better chance with the blacks’.
The image was posted on Instagram along with the caption: ‘A little black face racism by @teamgb Rugby 7’s @amywilsonhardy even joking she’ll have a better chance with the blacks’.
The BOA declined to comment other than to say they were aware of the post and looking into the circumstances surrounding it.
Wilson-Hardy, who made her England debut in 2013, started in today’s 26-17 victory over South Africa, and then featured in their 17-7 quarter-final defeat to the United States in the evening.
From West Sussex, she won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, was named in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad and has a degree in engineering from Bath University.
Wilson-Hardy has 10 England caps and has scored 40 points.
A spokesperson for BOA said: ‘The British Olympic Association has been made aware of an image on a social media platform and is investigating the matter.’
The RFU have been contacted for comment.
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