The event will take place without Russian athletes after the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) banned the nation and Belarus, following the war in Ukraine.

Russian athletes won five medals, including two gold, during last year’s World Championships where they competed under neutral status due to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions.

Belarus did not participate last year.

A total of 140 athletes are expected to compete at this year’s World Championships.

Hosts Finland will have the joint-largest team with 22 athletes set to participate, with Norway and Sweden also boasting the same size delegation.

Norway’s squad includes Jørgen Baklid, who earned middle distance gold and sprint bronze at last year’s World Championships at Kääriku in Estonia.

Estonia’s Daisy Kudre is also on the start list for the event.

Kudre triumphed in the women’s sprint and middle-distance races last year, as well as finishing as the runner-up in the pursuit competition.

The Estonian also earned bronze in the mixed sprint relay competition.

Sweden’s Lisa Larsen will hope to retain her women’s pursuit title.

The World Championships will begin tomorrow with the men’s and women’s sprint events, with pursuit competitions following on Wednesday (March 16).

Middle distances races will take place on Friday (March 18) following a rest day, with the sprint relay rounding off competition on Saturday (March 19).