Russian athletes

Russian athletes allowed to compete at Winter Paralympics

The International Olympic Committee this week recommended that sports federations suspend teams and athletes from the two countries but added that they could compete as neutrals if time or legal constraints prevented their removal.

"They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table," the IPC said in a statement.

"In deciding what action to take, the Board was guided by the IPC's core principles, which include a commitment to political neutrality and impartiality, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of sport.

Russian athletes told to prove they are clean

The warning comes as part of new guidelines issued by the IAAF, which has set out the criteria athletes must meet in order to compete as neutrals. 

Russia has been banned from IAAF competition since 2015 following allegations of state-sponsored doping.

The recent McLaren report claimed more than 1,000 Russians benefited from a doping programme in the country between 2011 and 2015.