Gustavsson’s made the comment in an interview, where she criticised an advert that showed a boy and a Muslim girl participating in shooting competitions, with the latter wearing a veil.

"Everything should not be shown," Gustavsson said, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

"If they want to show girls with an immigrant background, it can be done without them having a veil.

"Now, [it] shows that they like and encourage honour repression: genital mutilation, child marriage, honour violence.

"That upset me.

"The veil is a religious, political and sexist garment.

"In the Swedish National Sports Association's values, gender equality is important and the veil stands for something else.

"When such images are displayed, they normalise repression."

The Swedish Swimming Federation have distance themselves from Gustavsson’s comments, with reports in the country that the official had been dismissed from her position.

The Federation later claimed that Gustavsson had chosen to resign following the controversy.

“Ulla Gustavsson has a big heart for Swedish swimming, and we are grateful for the work she has put into the movement, both nationally and internationally," Stefan Persson, the Federation’s vice-chair, said. 

"But the Swedish Swimming Federation board takes the recent debate very seriously, and has come to the conclusion that there are no longer conditions for Ulla Gustavsson to successfully lead the Swedish Swim Association.

"Ulla Gustavsson has, therefore, chosen to resign as chairman of the Board.

"Her personal perceptions and statements contrast with the Swedish Swim Federation's strategy and basic view that all children should fit in our activities on equal terms."

Persson is now set to serve as the SSF's acting chair until their next annual meeting in spring 2020.

Earlier this month, a French feminist group, the International League for Women’s Rights (ILWR), called on the organisers of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris to ban the hijab and other items of Islamic clothing during the Games.

The ILWR claimed this would ensure female Muslim athletes can compete free from religious restrictions.

Last week, the International Boxing Association approved a rule change which permitted female athletes to wear sport hijabs at major events.

They followed other governing bodies, with women in sports including fencing, volleyball and basketball having worn the hijab in competition.

At Rio 2016, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing for the United States in the Olympics.