According to Russia's official state news agency TASS, Drachev said there as a "chance" Russian biathletes will be able to compete under their own flag at the event in Antholz because of an expected appeal against the WADA decision from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).

RUSADA's supervisory board is expected to confirm it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport when it meets on Thursday (December 19).

"Once it goes as far as legal proceedings, it will take lots of time, which gives us a chance to compete [at the World Championships]," said Drachev. 

"Once [RUSADA] takes another decision, we will assess the situation. 

"Now we should wait for December 19, and then we will be making decisions."

Banning Russian competitors from participating under their own flag at major events, including the Olympic Games and World Championships, for four years is among the list of sanctions set to be imposed on the nation as punishment for the manipulation of the Moscow Laboratory data.

International Federations will hold talks with WADA to determine how this is implemented.

In a statement sent to insidethegames, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) said its Biathlon Integrity Unit, which deals with its anti-doping matters, "is now reviewing WADA’s decisions in relation to biathlon and is developing procedures and guidelines for IBU to follow and implement if and when WADA’s proposed consequences come into effect".

"WADA is also expected to provide further clarifications for international sports federations with regard to the processes for determining which Russian athletes might compete and under what terms, within the context of the proposed consequences," the IBU added.

The RBU remains a provisional member of the IBU after the worldwide governing body relegated its status in 2017 because of the doping scandal.

Russian athletes are able to compete at all IBU events without any restrictions or conditions, however.