Artem Gromov, head of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) Sports Climbing Committee, told Russia’s official state news agency TASS that the organisation’s Board of Directors ruled that it would not punish athletes from the Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus.

The two nations have been largely frozen out of the sporting world as organisations respond to Russia’s military assault, aided by Belarus, on Ukraine.

At least 2,435 civilians have been killed since the launch of what Moscow describes as a "special military offensive" in Ukraine, according to the United Nations.

It is feared the true figure is far higher, while more than 5.1 million people have been forced to flee the country.

Founded in 1948, the CISM has 140 members, including Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, and has stated that it looks to "use sport for deconfliction and peace building between countries."

International Federations have been recommended by the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from events, but Gromov said the CISM has decided against taking that approach.

"It is gratifying to note that the International Military Sports Council strictly follows its motto 'Friendship through Sport'," Gromov told TASS.

"The organisation has always been out of politics, and it is CISM that is now the only international sports organisation in the world that has refused any sanctions against Russia.

"On the one hand, CISM are the first who should have introduced some kind of restrictive measures or sanctions, including on athletes, realising that they are all "in uniform" and represent the armed forces of their country.

"But in this case, everything worked out vice-versa.

"At the recent Board of Directors of the International Military Sports Council, during the discussion, it was decided not to introduce any measures or sanctions against athletes of the Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus."

Gromov said a decision by the CISM was also taken to continue to hold events in Russia including the World Cadet Games.

The Games are scheduled to be held in Russian city Saint Petersburg in August.

Gromov claimed that more than 20 countries were due to attend the Games, which will see athletes compete in military pentathlon, athletics, orienteering, shooting, volleyball, swimming and summer biathlon.

Russian athletes are also reportedly set to compete under their nation’s flag.

insidethegames has contacted the CISM for comment.