Speaking at a virtual press conference following the second and final day of the 53^rd World Athletics Congress, also held virtually, Coe accepted the point made the previous day by Rune Andersen, chair of the Taskforce charged with overseeing the return of RusAF to international competition, that continuing uncertainty over the status of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency threatens to handicap progress in track and field.

"Good progress has been made under the new management at the Russian Athletics Federation which we want to see continue and we are pleased we can move forward with RusAF under the same conditions," Coe said.

"But Rune Andersen has presented the third report of the Taskforce to Congress, and that is too long.

"This does need to be brought to a sensible conclusion.

"I am optimistic we are moving in the right direction.

"But the decision will only arrive when Taskforce provides Council with the confidence of really understanding that the reinstatement plan has been properly implemented.

"Recognition of RUSADA (Russian Anti-Doping Agency) as a properly functioning entity is part of that reinstatement plan.

"But that as an element is slightly beyond our control."

The RusAF was initially suspended in November 2015 due to a state-sponsored doping programme. 

Former President Dmitry Shlyakhtin and four other officials were then banned for obstructing an anti-doping investigation into the 2018 world indoor high jump champion Danil Lysenko by presenting fake medical documents.

The RusAF was hoping to have the ban lifted in 2019 before that case pushed the country back to the brink of being expelled from World Athletics altogether.

RusAF admitted the charges against it and subsequently paid World Athletics a $5 million (£3.7million/€4.4million) fine (with another $5 million suspended) plus $1.3 million(£965,000/€1.15million) in costs.

As a result, Council decided not to propose the expulsion of RusAF, provided RusAF developed a new reinstatement plan.

Meanwhile, the World Athletics Council is preparing to make a decision over who will host the 2025 World Athletics Championships at its next meeting in March.

Tokyo, whose magnificent stadium hosted a superb track and field programme at this year’s delayed Olympic Games in the absence of any spectators due to COVID-19 counter-measures, is thought to be a strong contender with a huge emotional power for its case.

No candidate cities have yet been named officially, but Coe said: "There are four strong cities that are at the table."