Russian and Belarussian athletes will be allowed to compete at the Paralympic Winter Games as neutrals. 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced their decision earlier today following consideration of the matter.

Russia and Belarus won't be included on the medals table.

There had been numerous calls for the countries to be excluded, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The RPC and NPC Belarus will participate as neutrals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games," an IPC statement read. 

"They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table.

"IPC to host extraordinary General Assembly in 2022 to vote on whether to make compliance with the Olympic Truce a membership requirement and whether to suspend or terminate the membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Belarus Paralympic Committee IPC will not hold any events in Russia or Belarus until further notice."

The Games are due to get underway in Beijing on Friday.

The decision has already attracted criticism, with the UK's Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries among those calling for the IPC to reconsider.

My statement on the International Paralympic Committee's decision 👇 pic.twitter.com/HwxoXsrJMe

— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) March 2, 2022