The decision, made clear in a statement published by the IOF, comes after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-commissioned investigation spearheaded by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren found no evidence to link Russian orienteering athletes to any wrongdoing.

As a consequence, the world governing body concluded that there "shall continue to be no restriction on the participation by Russian athletes in IOF events".

They added: "IOF Events planned to be organised in Russia will be completed as planned, and applications for future events from organisers in Russia are welcomed by the IOF.

"This decision means that the currently planned World Ski Orienteering Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, March 7 to 12 2017 will go ahead as planned."

They added their "full confidence in both Russian orienteering athletes and Russian IOF event organisers regarding these matters".

It is alleged that over 1,000 Russian athletes across Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic sport were implicated in a doping manipulation scheme in which samples were illegally swapped or falsely tested to cover-up doping.

The IOF decision comes after the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) stripped Sochi of hosting the World Championships in February due to the report's finding.

It is thought that Russian sliders were implicated in events including the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

"WADA has confirmed that among the first 714 athletes whom they have received information about, no orienteers were implicated," the IOF added.

"They noted, however, that they have not yet received information from the [McLaren] team about an additional 317 athletes listed in the report, and that they could therefore not make any statements about them. 

"As of the time of writing this statement, no additional information regarding these athletes has been received. If additional material information is received this statement may be updated.

"Based upon the information received from WADA, the IOF concludes that there is currently no evidence which indicates that orienteering is involved in systematic doping in Russia as reported by the McLaren Report...And therefore sees no reason to change the statements made in July/August 2016. Russian orienteering athletes participation in IOF events is not restricted and is welcomed.

"The IOF would like to add that during 2016 anti-doping testing has been carried out on 19 Russian orienteering athletes. 28 tests in total, 15 in-competition and 13 out-of-competition. 

"All results of these tests have been negative."