Monterroso has written a letter to ISSF secretary general Franz Schreiber, obtained by insidethegames, accusing the Italian of sending "false statements" to National Federations regarding shooting's programme at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. 

Monterroso also alleged that Rossi had accused him of defamation, as well as threatening legal action against him, ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and Schreiber.

The row centres on changes to shooting events at Tokyo 2020 to meet gender equality rules.

"In the last few months, Mr Luciano Rossi has maliciously devoted his energies to distorting the true reasons behind the ISSF proposal for the Olympic shooting programme for Tokyo 2020," Monterroso wrote in his letter.

"This, in total disregard of his position as vice-president of the ISSF, by virtue of which he is obligated to respect majority decisions of the ISSF that he is part of.

"During the two years in which the proposals were analysed and discussed at length, Mr Rossi certainly had the right to voice disagreements.

"However, after the Executive Committee had approved the recommendations, Mr Rossi (as part of this ISSF body) had the moral obligation to accept his collective responsibility with his colleagues or resign from his position.

"Mr Rossi's constant communications to all federations contained false statements that have confused and divided our organisation, gravely compromising its administrative stability.

"Clearly his behaviour is not aimed at defending the best interest of our sport; instead it is designed to further political and financial interests.

"Mr Rossi sent me a letter on April 18, with a copy to all members of the CAT, accusing me of defamation against him in a letter from CAT to its members on April 14, 2017.

"He threatened to start legal actions against me as well as the President of the ISSF Olegario Vazquez Raña and yourself, secretary general Schreiber, in a similar letter in the same date."

Monterroso also called upon Schreiber to refer Rossi to the ISSF Ethics Committee.

He claimed the Italian should resign from his post and begin his threatened legal action should he have an interest in anything other than "political posturing".

The letter comes prior to the ISSF Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) in Munich on Sunday (June 25), which insidethegames exclusively revealed last month had been called.

Only one item will be on the agenda at the EGA - the changes to the sport's Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020.

In order to meet International Olympic Committee (IOC) wishes for gender equality, the ISSF opted to remove three events for men only from the schedule.

The men's 50 metres rifle prone, 50m pistol and double trap have been replaced by three mixed team competitions.

The IOC ratified the changes at its Executive Board meeting on June 9 in Lausanne.

The ISSF had already accused Rossi in April of making a series of "false accusations" and spreading lies in relation to the changes to the Tokyo 2020 programme.

They said the Italian had "attacked the 2020 Olympic shooting programme recommendations" and criticised Rossi for spreading "false information".

It came in response to a letter circulated by Rossi, which claimed Schreiber and fellow vice-president Gary Anderson had held secret talks with the IOC about the possible introduction of laser guns into the sport.

In the letter, the Italian wrote that the pair "discussed the use of laser guns with the IOC as [the] possible future of the shooting sports".

Rossi, President of the Italian Shooting Federation, had also claimed his "longstanding support of President Olegario Vazquez Raña has finally come to an end".

The ISSF refute suggestions the IOC were considering axing firearms events from the programme.

They claimed an ISSF Ad Hoc Committee developed the recommendations for the Tokyo 2020 programme, which they claimed were unanimously approved by both the ISSF Executive Committee and Administrative Council in New Delhi.

Rossi, the ISSF stated, was a member of both bodies which unanimously approved the recommendations.

ISSF President Vázquez Raña exclusively told insidethegames earlier this month that he believed opposition to the changes to the sport programme was low and that the EGA would give members a much clearer understanding.