FISA, also known as World Rowing, has established a process to ensure that any Russian rower wishing to compete at international rowing events in 2017 may do so if they conform to certain rules ©World Rowing

The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has created a policy to ensure that any Russian rower wishing to compete at international events in 2017 may do so as long as they adhere to a "credible and internationally equivalent anti-doping testing regime". 

Following the release of the McLaren Report, which revealed 1,000 Russian athletes were implicated in a doping manipulation programme across Summer, Winter, non-Olympic and Paralympic sport between 2011 and 2015, FISA undertook a review of tests, following a directive set out by the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board, of rowers from the country since 2011 to establish their eligibility at Rio 2016.

The outcome was that six of the 26 Russian rowers that had qualified for the Games were declared eligible to compete in Rio.

FISA has now claimed Russian will athletes will be able to compete at upcoming international events if they adhere to certain criteria.

Their anti-doping rules specify that the governing body is entitled to require any rower for which it has testing authority over, to provide a sample at any time and be available for testing. 

However, FISA has required the Russian Rowing Federation (RRF) to provide a list of all athletes that would potentially be entered at the 2017 World Rowing Championships, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World Rowing Junior Championships and the European Rowing Championships.

Only six of the 26 possible Russian competitors were allowed to compete at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Only six of the 26 possible Russian competitors were allowed to compete at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

This must be completed by March 1 and must include all anti-doping tests and results that have been carried out on these rowers since January 1, 2013.

FISA will then review the list and decide on the next steps.

Any rower whose name is not on the list provided by the RRF, or whose previous testing history and subsequent testing results are not considered satisfactory by the FISA Executive Committee, will not be permitted to race in the events concerned in 2017.

“The FISA Executive Committee has decided to take this action for the credibility of the sport and protection of clean rowers worldwide and due to the severity and extent of the manipulation indicated in the McLaren reports but, as well, respect the clean Russian rowers,” commented FISA Executive Director Matt Smith.

"The FISA Executive Committee has the authority and responsibility to take action to protect the integrity of the sport.”