Jessica Fox, the teenage Australian world champion in the event, reacted strongly to inclusion of the phrase in an ICF press release sent out at the weekend.

In comments reported by the Australian media, Fox, who won a silver medal in kayak slalom at London 2012, said:

"As a C1 woman, to know it will be in the Olympics is great news, however as a high level athlete, ready for Rio [2016], I am upset that you would assume that this will 'certainly please' me, because in fact, I am not celebrating with my arms outstretched.

"To be honest it's a slap in the face and misleading.

"You would also know that I have been a vocal advocate for [change at] Rio, with the support of my Federation, Government and Olympic Committee, not to mention all the C1 women around the world.

"So while this news is fantastic for the future of the sport, the current reality is that women are still excluded for seven more years."

Fox also Tweeted: "Women's C1 in for Tokyo 2020; positive but disappointing; that's 7 more years of exclusion and no change since 1972".

A meeting of ICF directors in Lima last week carried motions both to support the inclusion of two women's C1 events at Tokyo 2020 and "guarantee complete gender equity" in Olympic sprint and slalom canoeing by 2024.

The governing body said these decisions would now be proposed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).