World Rowing are set to facilitate a meeting of International Federations tomorrow ©World Rowing

The World Rowing Federation (FISA) are to lead a meeting of International Federations (IF) tomorrow after the explosive findings of the McLaren Report which looked into state-sponsored doping by Russia.

Governing bodies present will "exchange information and understanding of the McLaren report" as calls grow for Russia to be completely banned from the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The McLaren Report mainly focussed on the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics but summer competitions were also covered.

Rowing was one of 30 sports to be implicated in the supposed swapping of samples to conceal positive tests by Russia, with FISA claiming they will now "consider possible outcomes".

The sport's governing body said they had "seriously noted" the implication of their sport and have requested evidence from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

In an update today, following a telephone conference call held by their Executive Committee, FISA announced several steps they are taking following the publication of the report.

Tomorrow's meeting will be key with Federations possibly taking different stances on what should happen to Russia.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are exploring legal options for a possible total ban but decisions could ultimately be left to individual IFs.

Currently, both the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) have confirmed their opposition to a blanket ban, while International Table Tennis Federation President Thomas Weikert claimed Russian athletes should be able to participate at Rio 2016.

The International Basketball Federation have also seemingly ruled out any action, as only one “disappearing positive” was found in their sport.

World Sailing have said they will review the accusations made in the report “as a matter of priority”, but claim to have not been made aware of any positive tests for Russian athletes alleged in the report.

International Federations are set to exchange information and discuss their understanding of Richard McLaren's report ©ITG
International Federations are set to exchange information and discuss their understanding of Richard McLaren's report ©ITG

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) has hinted its opposition to a blanket ban on Russian athletes competing at Rio 2016 after they stressed the need for “individual justice”.

However, the umbrella organisation said yesterday that they would respect the stances of all their 28 members “including those that take into account collective responsibility of organisations under the IF governance”.

Tomorrow's meeting will see the Federations compare their understanding of the report, which confirmed and elaborated on the allegations of former Moscow Laboratory chief Grigory Rodchenkov.

FISA have also asked WADA to hold a meeting with IFs “immediately following the release of evidence referred to in the McLaren report” and to “supply the evidence related to rowing and rowers, presented in the McLaren report”.

A "complete review of testing of Russian rowers since 2011, in accordance with the Olympic Summit declaration” will now be carried out.

The governing body has already engaged with external and independent legal counsel to determine what actions they could take legally should evidence in the report confirm allegations asserted.

Russia’s men’s quadruple sculls crew have already been banned from competing at Rio 2016 by FISA ©Getty Images
Russia’s men’s quadruple sculls crew have already been banned from competing at Rio 2016 by FISA ©Getty Images

A letter has additionally been sent by FISA to the IOC to ask whether there is a deadline for re-allocation of quota places, in the event of a blanket ban on Russia.

Currently, Russia have qualified five crews for the Rio 2016 Olympics, as well as two for the Paralympic Games.

Russia’s men’s quadruple sculls crew have already been banned from competing at Rio 2016, after Sergei Fedorovtsev tested positive for trimetazidine in an out-of-competition test conducted by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) on May 17.

The Athens 2004 gold medallist was a member of the crew which secured their place at Rio 2016 at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne in Switzerland on May 24, along with Nikita Morgachev, Artem Kosov and Vladislav Ryabcev.

The IOC have postponed their decision on Russia’s participation at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro until the end of the week while they explore the legal avenues.

WADA, meanwhile, said that Russia should be banned from all international competitions, including Rio 2016, until they achieved a "culture change".

The IOC's decision is likely to be influenced by the outcome of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) verdict into whether Russia’s ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) should remain in place.

A decision on that case is due to be made tomorrow.