Dmitry Shlyakhtin has been invited to attend the IAAF Congress in London ©Getty Images

Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) President Dmitry Shlyakhtin claims to have received an "official invitation" to participate in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Congress in London on August 2 and 3.

But the IAAF have since made clear that a suspended Federation has the right only to "address" the Congress and not to fully attend the annual the biennial event.

Shlyakhtin had told Russia's official news agency TASS that he had received an "official invitation" for the meeting, due to be held at the ExCeL.

He added that he is "planning to attend it".

"According to the IAAF Constitution any suspended Member Federation has the right to address the Congress and we have informed Russian Athletics Federation about this right," an IAAF spokesperson responded to insidethegames.

"We are waiting to hear back from them if they will use their right.

"We need to be clear, since they are suspended, they have no right to attend and be part of the IAAF Congress."

The Congress will be held in the British capital shortly before the IAAF World Championships is due to be take place there from August 4 to 13.

No Russian athletes will be able to participate under their own flag at the World Championships in London, but some, like defending champion Sergey Shubenkov, should be able to compete neutrally ©Getty Images
No Russian athletes will be able to participate under their own flag at the World Championships in London, but some, like defending champion Sergey Shubenkov, should be able to compete neutrally ©Getty Images

Russian athletes will not be permitted to compete in the Championships under their own flag due to the suspension.

A total of 25 athletes from the country have so far been cleared to compete neutrally by the IAAF, however, after successfully proving they have been operating in an "effective testing system".

These include two reigning world champions, Sergey Shubenkov in the 110 metres hurdles and high jumper Maria Kuchina. 

The IAAF have said that 45 other applications for neutral participation have been rejected. 

Shlyakhtin will be hoping to convince the IAAF that they are making the necessary progress to fulfill "reinstatement criteria" imposed following the suspension.

This was introduced in 2015 following a World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned report into Russian doping problems in athletics.

An update is expected to be given on progress during the Congress.