The 30-year-old won men's sprint Olympic bronze at London 2012, but missed out on selection for last year's Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Perkins, who has not been a member of Cycling Australia’s high-performance programme since 2015, is now in the process of gaining Russian citizenship.

He will not relinquish his Australian citizenship and can hold dual passports, but Perkins will not defend his national keirin title at next month's national championships in Brisbane.

"The Russian Cycling Federation has given me another opportunity to chase my dreams of Olympic representation in Tokyo 2020 which has special significance to me as my father (Darryl Perkins) raced the Olympics in Tokyo 1964," Perkins said in a post on his Facebook page today.

"I've spoken to Cycling Australia's high-performance programme and staff and they have been supportive."

Perkins informed Cycling Australia of his decision in November and will continue to train and coach in Brisbane.

Cycling Australia chief executive Nick Green has confirmed the national governing body will not stand in Perkins’ way.  

"Like any athlete, he is eligible and entitled to pursue options that will not just extend his cycling career, but give him the best options to compete at the highest level and support his family," he said.

"Shane’s professionalism in his career and dedication to the sport has always been of the highest level.

"An Olympic bronze and dual world champion, Shane always wore the green and gold with the utmost respect and pride and this will no doubt continue no matter what country he represents."

Since missing out on Rio 2016, Perkins has been racing the Japanese keirin series with his Dreamseeker trade team.

He could make his debut for Russia at the 2017 Track World Championships in Hong Kong in April.

Along with Olympic bronze in the sprint at London 2012, Perkins has won world titles in the keirin and team sprint and Commonwealth Games gold in the sprint. 

The Australian trio of Patrick Constable, Matthew Glaetzer and Nathan Hart finished fourth in the men’s team sprint at Rio 2016, losing out to France in the bronze medal race.