Russia remains at risk of being stripped of three major biathlon events ©Getty Images

Russia remains at risk of being stripped of three International Biathlon Union (IBU) events following the country's doping scandal after new evidence became available, the worldwide governing body has announced.

The country is due to stage second-tier IBU Cups in Uvat and Khanty-Mansiysk and the World Cup final in Tyumen at the end of March despite the relegation of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) from a full to a provisional member of the IBU in December.

The IBU Executive Board has claimed they are "still evaluating" whether to hold the events in Russia as planned or to switch them to an alternative venue.

A final decision is due to be made by the IBU at the Executive Board meeting during next month's Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, where Russian athletes will be competing as neutrals.

"Following the decisions of the 133rd IBU Executive Board Meeting in Hochfilzen, Austria on Sunday, December 10, 2017, the Executive Board of the IBU would like to inform its members, partners and media representatives that the conduct of IBU-sanctioned events in Russia planned for the 2017 to 2018 season is currently still being evaluated in light of newly available information," a statement from the IBU read.

A final decision on the events in Russia will be made by the IBU Executive Board at a meeting in Pyeongchang ©Getty Images
A final decision on the events in Russia will be made by the IBU Executive Board at a meeting in Pyeongchang ©Getty Images

The "newly-available information" referred to in the statement is thought to relate to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database obtained by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and shared with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federations.

As a provisional member, Russia are still able to send athletes to international events under their own flag.

The IBU said in December that it will review the restitution of the RBU to full membership at a "later date but not before the end of the 2017-2018 competition".

This will only happen if the IOC suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee has been lifted, if no other failed tests are incurred by Russian biathletes and if the RBU "fully cooperates" with IBU investigations.

Three Russian biathletes were disqualified by the IOC for involvement in a "systemic manipulation" of the anti-doping system at Sochi 2014 - Yana Romanova, Olga Vilukhina and Olga Zaitseva.

All three had formed part of the Olympic silver medal winning Russian 4x6 kilometres relay quartet.

The IBU has always claimed they were not as affected by the doping scandal as other International Federations as none of the three athletes sanctioned are still competing.

Tyumen was stripped of the rights to host the 2021 IBU World Championships last February following publication of the McLaren Report.