Bubka, formerly an Olympic and six-time world champion pole vaulter, met with European Muaythai Federation President and his fellow Ukrainian Gennadiy Turkhanov in Odessa.

Turkhanov is also Mayor of the city.

According to a message posted on the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) website, Bubka congratulated Turkhanov and the "entire muay thai family" for the recognition by the IOC.

The decision confirmed that the IFMA and muay thai has "over years of hard work fulfilled the 54 point criteria the IOC set for recognition".

Bubka stated that muay thai has become a "recognisable and credible member in the Olympic family".

Recognition by the IOC has "so many benefits for IFMA", he added, but also brings "even more responsibilities...especially for the athletes".

Bubka, who is also President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, then stepped into a ring to pose with a muay thai glove.

Both the IFMA and the International Cheer Union were provisionally recognised by the IOC Executive Board following their meeting in Lausanne earlier this month.

The successful duo will now be eligible for IOC development funding worth $25,000 (£20,000/€23,000) and will become members of the Association of IOC Recognised International Federations (ARISF).

They could also receive additional amounts to spend on anti-doping and other projects.

Their provisional membership lasts for up to three years, and they can only be made full members by an IOC Session - so at Lima in September 2017 at the earliest.

Trukhanov is a controversial figure who has denied allegations that he is both a Russian and a Ukrainian citizen despite a Ukrainian law banning dual citizenship.

He has also denied allegations in the leaked Panama Papers, released earlier this year, that he has "a substantial business empire in Ukraine through companies registered in the British Virgin Islands".