Ringwood athlete Bethany Woodward has withdrawn from the forthcoming Paralympic Games over allegations that some more able-bodied athletes are being wrongly classified to boost medal prospects.

The Ringwood sprinter, who won a silver medal in the 200 metres T37 four years ago in London, has withdrawn from Team GB so that she can speak out on the issue.

In an interview with the Sunday Times - prompting reporter David Walsh to describe her as the 'bravest most principled athlete I've ever interviewed' - she spoke out about leaving 'sport [that has] has lost its moral bearings'.

The 23-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, said: "I represented my country for a long time but if I can’t compete like I used to compete, because they’ve brought in people who are not like me in terms of disability, what’s the point?"

Woodward’s withdrawal comes after it emerged that UK Athletics is set to launch an inquiry into the classification of athletes following the conclusion of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, which are due to begin on Wednesday.

Concerns have been raised that some athletes have been able to compete against others who have been significantly more impaired, which would ultimately improve their chances of success.

Michael Breen, the father of Portsmouth Paralympian Olivia Breen who ran with Woodward to claim bronze in the women’s 4x100m relay at London 2012, has also spoken out on the issue.

He lodged a complaint with UK Athletics earlier this year, claiming there had been a "false and reckless" classification of athletes with a view to "increasing British medal opportunities".