IMMAF said it had agreed with WADA to delay the hearing, due to be held at the Tribunal d’Arrondissement in Lausanne, for a period of up to four months.

Chief executive of IMMAF, Densign White, said the postponement was made to "allow WADA time to review the current procedure for a sport organisation to become a signatory".

IMMAF is taking legal action against WADA after the global anti-doping watchdog rejected its application to become a code signatory.

IMMAF officials argue its application was turned down because it is not recognised by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). 

The latest development appears to be a victory for IMMAF, which has also threatened legal action against GAISF after it failed with its latest bid to be granted observer status.

White, a three-time Olympian in judo, alleged IMMAF is "being blocked, for political reasons, by influential representatives of other combat sports".

"While IMMAF will continue to monitor the situation closely, we have acted in good faith to press pause on legal action while WADA reviews these procedures," White said. 

"We want to work in partnership with key stakeholders in sport.

"We would like to thank WADA for the open and fair approach and underline our commitment to Clean Sport as a code compliant sport. 

"Without being a WADA signatory, IMMAF's sanctions are easily bypassed with a resulting detrimental impact on our athletes, their safety and the sport of mixed martial arts."