Russian Skating Union (RSU) President Alexey Kravtsov told Russia's official state news agency TASS that he expected the South Korean-born star, who reversed a decision to retire earlier this year, to take part in the RSU Cup from September 13 to 15.

The event forms part of the qualification process for the Russian team, which Ahn is hoping to secure a place on in his attempt to participate at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Ahn, barred from competing at Pyeongchang 2018, announced in February that he would come out of retirement.

The 33-year-old, born in South Korea’s capital Seoul as Ahn Hyun-soo but who switched allegiance to Russia in time for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, had called time on his career last September.

"We will see in September what shape he [Ahn] really is," Kravtsov said.

Ahn originally competed for South Korea and won three Olympic gold medals for the Asian nation at Turin 2006.

Injuries saw him fail to qualify for Vancouver 2010, however, and in 2011 he gained Russian citizenship, winning a further three Olympic golds at Sochi 2014.

Ahn has no family ties to Russia but chose to compete for the country after falling out with the Korean Skating Union.

He reportedly considered moving to the United States but chose Russia due to the promise of good pay and the near certainty that he would qualify for their Olympic team, considering the comparative lack of world-class short track talent in Russia.

He chose the Russian name Viktor due to its association with the word victory, but was banned from Pyeongchang 2018 after becoming embroiled in the Russian doping scandal.