The editor of Italian sports newspaper QS Quotidiano Sportivo was dismissed on Tuesday for running a headline calling Italy's female archers the "chubby trio" after the team narrowly missed bronze in the Rio Olympics on Monday.

Publisher Andrea Riffeser Monti fired Giuseppe Tassi with immediate effect after the reference to athletes Guendalina Sartori, Lucilla Boari and Claudia Mandia drew criticism and protests on social media and from the president of the Italian Archery Federation Mario Scarzella.

Riffeser Monti "apologises to the Olympic archers and to the readers of Qs Quotidiano Sportivo for the headline," a statement read.