Mutko added: "It's an unprecedented decision.

"I don't understand what it's based on."

He promised "full support" for the Russian Paralympic Committee, which has already indicated that it will appeal against a decision taken in the light of findings by the McLaren Report into state-sponsored doping within Russia.

Vladimir Lukin, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC), told a news conference today that the ban was a grave abuse of human rights.

He added that most Russian Para-athletes were not guilty of using banned drugs and that he was ready to prove that the team had fulfilled all its anti-doping obligations.

"The overwhelming majority of sportspeople who were prevented from taking part in the Games were absolutely clean sportspeople," said Lukin.

"I believe none of the National Paralympic Committees were more rigorous and attentive in implementing the anti-doping programme than the RPC.

“We are ready to prove that with evidence."

IPC President Sir Philip Craven had yesterday called Russia's anti-doping system "broken, corrupted and entirely compromised".

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has, meanwhile, expressed its “deep concern” over the IPC ruling.

An ANOC statement pointed out that more than 250 Russian athletes will be prevented from competing at the Paralympic Games here as a result of the IPC decision.

The statement continued: “Many of ANOC's 206 NOCs work as National Paralympic Committees in their countries and will be directly affected by the suspension of such a key country within the Paralympic Movement.

"The decision was taken based on the McLaren Report which it has been widely acknowledged needs further research before comprehensive conclusions can be drawn.

"While the McLaren Report was shocking and did highlight the need for a total reform of the existing anti-doping system, ANOC does not believe there is sufficient evidence to support a complete ban of Russian athletes."

ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah commented: "We are deeply concerned by the IPC’s decision which will unfairly punish clean Russian athletes and prevent them from fulfilling the goal they have worked towards over the last four years.

"While recognising the difference in the structures of Paralympic sport in Russia, the IPC has decided to suspend Russia from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games; favouring collective responsibility over individual justice.

"We strongly believe that the IPC should have followed the lead of the IOC to give International Federations the responsibility of determining whether their Russian athletes should be able to compete at the Paralympic Games.

"Every Russian athlete should be given the opportunity to prove their innocence.

"Everyone in the Paralympic Movement has a responsibility to protect clean athletes."