Speaking following a meeting of the IIHF Council today, where China's participation at Beijing 2022 was among the topics discussed, Tardif said the "status of the men’s national team as a host nation participant in the Olympic ice hockey tournament was confirmed by Congress and remains unchanged".

The IIHF has been evaluating China's men's team and their spot at their home Games amid concerns over its "insufficient sporting standard".

Tardif suggested in September that China may be thrown out of the event.

The Chinese side automatically qualified for Beijing 2022 as hosts, but Tardif raised concerns over the possibility of the home team being comfortably beaten in all of their matches, and the impact that would have on the tournament and the sport as a whole.

The IIHF and the Chinese Ice Hockey Association (CIHA) said they are "working together to schedule two games with the Chinese national team in a joint effort to evaluate the status of the team’s preparations for Beijing 2022".

The eligible national team players will compete as part of Kunlun Red Star in the Kontinental Hockey League team's games on November 15 and 17.

The IIHF Council will convene "to discuss the next steps forward" following the matches, the worldwide governing body said.

"To be clear, the IIHF is not going to remove the Chinese team from the Olympic Games, the status of the men’s national team as a host nation participant in the Olympic ice hockey tournament was confirmed by Congress and remains unchanged," said Tardif. 

"We are working with the CIHA to confirm their player eligibility according to IIHF rules, and we will continue to assist them as they work towards preparing their team for the Olympic Games."

The IIHF has insisted China's place in the women's competition is safe as they are deemed to be more competitive than their men's side.

China have been drawn with reigning world champions Canada, the United States and Germany in Group A of the men's competition at Beijing 2022.

They could have been the first Olympic host nation to be axed from the ice hockey tournament at their home Games.

The IIHF also committed to the development of a strategic plan in cooperation with its members during the meeting, the first gathering of the Council since Tardif was elected President in September.

The organisation's ethics code and disciplinary procedures were among the other issues discussed.