European silver medallist Pihla Kaivo‑oja withdraws from Tammer Tournament on doctor's advice

Pihla Kaivo‑oja will not fight at the Tammer Tournament in Tampere on Oct. 30–Nov. 1, YLE reports. The tournament had been due to be headlined by two-time Olympic champion Kellie Anne Harrington Kellie Harrington headlining the event, and the city recently awarded Kaivo‑oja a €4,000 bonus for her European Championship silver Tampere's award to Kaivo‑oja.

She withdrew Wednesday evening on her doctor's recommendation because of a significant medical impediment, organisers said. Her health does not allow full-weight competition, and the priority is a full recovery and a return to the sport as soon as possible, the statement said. Tournament competition director Anna Laukkanen called the decision a huge disappointment for the club, fans and, above all, for Pihla and her personal coach, Maarit Teuronen.

Kaivo‑oja, 24, won her first senior international medal with a European Championship silver in September and had been planning to use Tammer as preparation for next April's world championships, which award Olympic qualifying places. She missed the Tammer Tournament last year after failing the pre-fight weigh-in and was sidelined from last autumn's world championships by illness. The event will still feature names such as recent European bronze medallist Ismail Umar, Vilma Viitanen and Kellie Anne Harrington.