Russian Para-athletes will be allowed to attempt to qualify for Pyeongchang 2018 as neutrals ©Getty Images

The Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) are working to introduce "urgent" drugs tests so their athletes can attempt to qualify for Pyeongchang 2018.

The country's participation at the Winter Paralympics in South Korea in March remains under threat due to their suspension by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

This followed widespread doping allegations in the McLaren Report and led to the country missing the Rio 2016 Paralympics in September.

However, the IPC confirmed last week that Russians could compete as neutrals in Pyeongchang 2018 qualification events in four sports - Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing and snowboard.

This "interim measure" is subject to strict criteria, including the athlete being in the registered testing pool and being subject to two tests within the six months before the qualifying competitions.

The IPC made the move to allow Russia to compete in Pyeongchang should its suspension be lifted in time.

However, it has led to a race against the clock to make sure athletes are eligible.

Russia has already run out of time to try and qualify for the Para-ice hockey tournament at the Games.

It is already too late for Russia to compete at Para-ice hockey ©Getty Images
It is already too late for Russia to compete at Para-ice hockey ©Getty Images

"The RPC, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) and the IPC are ironing out the issue of organising urgent testing for Russian Paralympic athletes under the IPC requirements until the start of the first qualifying rounds in November 2017," said Pavel Rozhkov, a first vice president at the RPC, to TASS.

The IPC have said that the RPC will remain suspended until at least the next meeting of the IPC Taskforce responsible for monitoring the nation's progress in meeting reinstatement criteria.

This is scheduled for November.

Among the seven key measures that still need to be met by the RPC is the finalisation of its anti-doping rules, to be approved by the Taskforce, and the approval of the governing body's constitution by the IPC membership department.

Completion of all budget-related aspects of the reinstatement criteria and the provision and confirmation of certain additional information by the RPC regarding personnel and governance, as specified by the Taskforce, are also measures that still need to be met.

The other requirements are the provision of further information relating to the composition of the RPC Board, to be defined by the Taskforce, the full reinstatement of RUSADA by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the provision of an official response specifically and adequately addressing the findings in the McLaren Report.