Zhukov left the first inspection visit of the Beijing 2022 IOC Coordination Commission, which he chairs, here two days early to be in attendance at the Presidential Council on Developing Physical Culture and Sports chaired by Vladimir Putin in the city of Kovrov in the central Vladimir Region today.

The 60-year-old former Deputy Prime Minister was among a number of officials at the meeting, with the results of the Russian team at the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and improving the state of physical education in the country high on the agenda.

Zhukov is expected to officially step down from the ROC in December. 

Double Olympic swimming gold medallist Alexander Popov is the early favourite to succeed Zhukov. 

"I discussed this with Alexander Zhukov," Putin said.

"We are aware that he was elected First Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, and we discussed it with him. 

"He wants to concentrate on his work in the Duma. 

"The Olympic cycle has ended, and the new one is just beginning. 

"This is certainly correct, and we will support it in every way. 

"Mr Zhukov has done a lot for sports, and I hope he will do even more.

"However, this issue should be tackled in contact with the International Olympic Committee, so that we do not lose Russia’s standing in the IOC. 

"It is imperative to consult Mr Bach on these issues before we do anything or decide on anything."

Zhukov, a key ally of Putin, was first appointed ROC President in 2010 and was then re-elected for another four-year term in 2014.

As a result of his decision to resign as the head of the ROC, he will relinquish his membership of the IOC and faces being replaced as chair of the Beijing 2022 Coordination Commission.

He also chaired the IOC Evaluation Commission during the 2022 bid process.

Zhukov was considered a controversial choice as chair after he was appointed amid the Russian doping scandal which saw the nation's track and field athletes banned from international competition.

Their participation at Rio 2016 was then restricted as several International Federations opted to exclude athletes from Russia from the event following the publication of the damning McLaren Report.

Zhukov attended an IOC meeting in July, where it was decided that a blanket ban on Russian athletes at the Games in the Brazilian city would not be put in place.

The ROC President was elected to the IOC at the 2013 Session in Buenos Aires, where Tokyo was chosen as the host of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Putin also revealed that the sports, youth and tourism sectors in Russia "should be brought together under one roof and be supervised by one Deputy Prime Minister".

Further details about the new authority in the country will be revealed in the near future, according to the Russian President.

The new Deputy Prime Minister role is expected to be filled by current Sports Minister and Russian Football Union President Vitaly Mutko.

"I would like to tell you that Prime Minister Medvedev and I have discussed a number of issues that are close to sports, such as youth policy and tourism," Putin said. 

"Sports, youth, and tourism are all very close. 

"We believe they should be brought together under one roof and be supervised by one Deputy Prime Minister. 

"The Government will come up with specific proposals in the near future, including the name of such a supervisory authority.

"Importantly, these are the first steps on the path of reform in the sports sector."