Wrestling's world governing body was reprimanded for a rules violation in its bid for a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics, its chief confirmed at a news conference in Buenos Aires.

"It was a problem with one letter that was sent from the Japan Wrestling Federation to all national wrestling federations in order to try to help and influence the IOC (International Olympic Committee) members from their countries. But this doesn't fit with the rules of conduct," Nenad Lalovic, head of the group, said Friday after confirming a media report earlier in the day.

Japan Wrestling Federation President Tomiaki Fukuda said later that he sent an email to members of the IOC and members of the 177 national wrestling federations. IOC rules explicitly prohibit the sending of such material three weeks prior to the vote, according to The Associated Press.