Tamás Gyárfás has resigned as Hungarian Swimming Federation President ©LinkedIn

Beleaguered Hungarian Swimming Federation (MUSZ) President Tamás Gyárfás has resigned amid a wave of criticism from the country's top stars.

The aquatics chief has stepped down after 23 years in the role amid a catalogue of problems alleged by swimmers including triple Rio 2016 champion Katinka Hosszu.

The MUSZ had vowed to "address" the growing number of complaints but Gyárfás has instead fallen on his sword.

It comes with Hungarian capital Budapest preparing to host the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Aquatics Championships next year.

The city, a contender for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will also stage the European Aquatics Championships in 2020.

"I hereby resign because I feel this is the best way for me to help now," Gyárfás said in a statement to MTI.

"I became chairman of the Swimming Association in 1993.

"It was great to be a part of the five European Championships Hungary hosted and I am happy to have been there when we won the right to host the World Championships."

Katinka Hosszu was a vocal critic of the now former President ©Getty Images
Katinka Hosszu was a vocal critic of the now former President ©Getty Images

Writing on Facebook, Hosszu had claimed her relationship with Gyárfás has been adversarial ever since he supposedly urged her to "stop swimming and retire" in 2008.

"If it were up to him, Hungary would have left three Olympic gold medals and a silver home from the Rio Olympics," she said.

She claims Gyarfas - who is also a FINA vice-president and European Swimming Federation treasurer - only remained in his position because of the medals success enjoyed by her and other swimmers.

Training conditions within Hungary have worsened since 2015, she insists, to the extent that top swimmers often have to train "at zero degrees, many times in the pouring rain in an outdoor pool".

Her comments were echoed by Hungary's new IOC Athletes' Commission member Daniel Gyurta, who wrote on Facebook that there is "no order" around the MUSZ.

He added: "The saddest thing is that the swimmers - whom the whole thing should be about - will suffer."

Gyurta claimed 200 metres breaststroke gold at London 2012 while Hosszú secured Rio titles in the 100m backstroke and 200m and 400m individual medley events.

Rio 2016 800m freestyle bronze medallist Boglárka Kapás has also made similar comments.

Hozzu appeared to tweet her happiness at the resignation today, saying: "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise".