Lebedev, who comes from Russia’s northern region of Yakutia, overcame Musukayev of Dagestan in an under 57 kilograms semi-final bout at a Championships held in Yakutsk.

The fight erupted in the aftermath with state television showing Musukayev’s coaches and supporters pouring into the ring and starting a scuffle with Lebedev.

The Russian Wrestling Federation said all wrestlers from Dagestan, a province in Russia’s North Caucasus known for its Islamic insurgency, have now boycotted the competition in protest and were handed a technical defeat.

Musukayev told Russian news agency TASS there wasn't a scuffle and that he was only responding to what he felt was poor refereeing.

"I did push Lebedev, yes," he said.

"He was silent when people next to us were lying.

"I felt so bad.

"It was as if he had really won that fight."

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko expressed his concern over the incident and said he would discuss with wrestlers what he described as an increasing number of violent reactions during competitions.

Earlier this month, a wrestler from Chechnya hit his opponent after the end of a bout.

Members of his team, including a man holding a gun, rushed into the ring to support him.