Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi competes at an event in South Korea without a hijab in what some see as a gesture of solidarity with the women-led protests in her country.
This was in breach of the Islamic republic's mandatory dress rules of compulsory headscarf for women which also apply to all female athletes, even when competing abroad.
Rekabi, 33, in her first comment since the event at the Asian Championships on Sunday, apologised on Instagram for the "concerns" caused and insisted her bare-headed appearance had been "unintentional".