Rekabi claimed her hijab had fallen off "inadvertently" during competition in South Korea's capital Seoul, but the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that an apology was forced.

She was reportedly placed under house arrest on returning to Iran, and there were claims her family villa was demolished.

The controversy came following the start of ongoing anti-Government protests in Iran, sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Masha Amini after she was arrested for not wearing a hijab.

Rekabi returned to competition for Iran at the women's Climbing World Cup in the Italian town of Brixen, where she missed out on qualifying for the semi-final.

Citizen journalism site IranWire reported that Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth had requested a financial guarantee and house deed before she travelled abroad.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed concern over the financial guarantees required from athletes and teams to travel abroad during talks with the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NOCIRI) earlier this year.

A written report has been requested by the IOC from the NOCIRI on the status of women in sport and protection of athletes, with a warning "appropriate action" could be taken relating to Iran's participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh, Iran's only female Olympic medallist after her bronze at Rio 2016, fled her homeland and defected to Germany in 2020.

Safety concerns have been raised over female athletes who have chosen not to wear hijabs in international competitions.

Wearing a hijab in public is compulsory for women in Iran under the country's strict Islamic laws introduced after the 1979 revolution, and this has received increased international attention since the death of Amini and subsequent protests.

National karate champion Mohammad Mehdi Karami was among four men executed in Iran for their involvement in the protests, while former handball player Razieh Janbaz and football legend Ali Daei have said they have been blocked from leaving the country.

Athletics Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran President Hashem Siami quit last month after photos showed women running in a marathon in Shiraz without hijabs.

Iran has previously been accused of breaching the Olympic Charter through Government orders that the country's athletes should not face Israelis at sports events, but the NOCIRI has avoided suspension.