Rutter wants apology after skeet final controversy
Amber Rutter says “some accountability needs to be taken” and “an apology” given following the controversial end to the women’s skeet final in Paris.
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Great Britain’s Amber Rutter says “some accountability needs to be taken” and “an apology” given following the controversial end to the women’s skeet final at the Paris Games.
The 26-year-old was tied with Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid after three rounds of the four-round shoot-off, but she was called to have missed a shot which slow-motion replays appeared to show she hit.
At the Olympics, shooting’s version of a video assistant referee (VAR) or Hawkeye is not in use, and the judges did not overturn their decision when Rutter contested the call.
The silver medallist said “a poor and incorrect decision by all three referees” had denied her the chance of competing for the gold medal.
BBC Sport has contacted the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) for comment.
Writing on Instagram, Rutter said: “There has been thousands of comments and images shared of me clearly hitting my final shot in the gold-medal match shoot-off.
“I feel like I owe it not just myself but the entire shooting community to highlight and address the matter.
“Every athlete, especially at the Games deserves to compete on a fair playing field.”
She added: “We are at an elite level and these mistakes I believe should not even be a possibility.”
Rutter and Crovetto Chadid finished level on 55 shots from 60 targets in the final, resulting in a shoot-off to crown the new Olympic champion.
After Rutter questioned the referees’ call, 34-year-old Crovetto Chadid struck with both her next shots to clinch Chile’s first ever shooting gold medal.
In her Instagram post, Rutter highlighted the fact VAR had “always” been in place at previous ISSF competitions.
“At this point in time, I can’t imagine a huge amount will be done, and that is not what I am looking for,” she said.
“However, I do believe some accountability needs to be taken to acknowledge and an apology for the incorrect decision ultimately costing me an opportunity of winning an Olympic gold medal. And furthermore a plan to prevent something like this happening in the future.”
