Maksim Khramtsov, left, is set to compete as a neutral at the World Taekwondo Championships ©Getty Images

The Taekwondo Union of Russia's Executive Committee have included Olympic champion Maksim Khramtsov and Vladislav Larin in its list of participants for the upcoming World Taekwondo Championships in Baku.

The Russian athletes are set to compete as neutrals in the Azerbaijan capital following World Taekwondo's reinstatement of individuals to its events in line with International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendations.

"The Executive Committee of the Taekwondo Union of Russia approved the composition for the World Championship in Baku," said Russia's head coach Vadim Ivanov, as reported by the country's official state news agency TASS.

"He will be sent to the World Taekwondo Federation, which, in accordance with its criteria, will determine who will be allowed to participate in the World Championship.

"We expect that all the athletes declared by us will receive such a right."

Vladislav Larin won the men's over-80-kilograms title at Tokyo 2020 and is due to participate in Baku next month ©Getty Images
Vladislav Larin won the men's over-80-kilograms title at Tokyo 2020 and is due to participate in Baku next month ©Getty Images

Khramtsov and Larin, winners of the respective men's under-80-kilograms and over-80kg titles at Tokyo 2020, are set to be joined by 14 other taekwondo in Baku for the Championships due to take place between May 29 and June 5. 

Olympic silver medallist Tatiana Minina is the pick of the women's side, while another Tokyo 2020 medallist is in the men's selection in the form of bronze winner Mikhail Artamonov.

The Russians were preparing for the event at a training camp in Sochi before heading to Bronnitsy near Moscow for two weeks. 

Khramtsov's coach Alexander Lashpanov has claimed that the 2017 world champion is in peak condition for the event in Baku.

The final Russian line-up is due to be confirmed following the Bronnitsy training camp on May 16.

Russian athletes are set to compete as neutrals at the World Taekwondo Championships, beginning later this month at the Baku Crystal Hall ©Getty Images
Russian athletes are set to compete as neutrals at the World Taekwondo Championships, beginning later this month at the Baku Crystal Hall ©Getty Images

"Maxim is as ready as possible for the tournament, but if admitted, it will not be easy for him, because for about a year he had no practice of participating in such starts," Lashpanov said, as reported by TASS. 

"Now any opponent can become difficult, since we have not met with them for a long time, not we know what form they are in and what result they can show."

World Taekwondo is one of several International Federations to reverse its stance on Russian and Belarusian participation following the IOC suggestion earlier this year.

Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the global governing body recommended an outright ban on all athletes from the two countries.

A new set of recommendations released in March encouraged the athletes to be allowed to compete as neutrals provided they do not support the war and are not affiliated with the armed forces.