Bronze in doubt as Fox-Pitt withdraws

British medal hopes in the Olympic eventing were dealt a potentially disastrous blow last night when William Fox-Pitt and his brilliant horse Tamarillo were withdrawn from competition.

Tamarillo, a horse that would have been worth £1million if the pair had managed an individual gold after today's final round of competition, suffered an injury to the stifle - the equivalent of the knee - following the cross-country section which ended with Britain in third place in the team event and Fox-Pitt fifth in the individual section.

As a result of the withdrawal, Britain drop to fourth in the team competition to compound a disappointing show from the fancied Pippa Funnell on Primmore's Pride, who finished almost 30 seconds below the optimum time in the cross-country phase and dropped from second to eighth in the individual standings.

Funnell opted to save her horse from punishment on the crosscountry course - a section of the competition that has now claimed Tamarillo - by taking it easy.

A statement from the British Olympic Association said: " Following the withdrawal of William Fox-Pitt and Tamarillo from the eventing competition of the Olympic Games, Team GB have announced that during the crosscountry-phase of the competition, Tamarillo sustained a slight injury which - following an investigation - will prevent him being presented for the final veterinary inspection prior to the showjumping phase.

"The injury is not serious but horse welfare is always a prime consideration. Tamarillo suffered a knock to the stifle which will prevent it showjumping tomorrow."