However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made it clear the process "only began" on the expiration of the CAS sanction yesterday, stressing the Russian Anti-Doping Agency's (RUSADA) non-compliance still remains a barrier for the country to compete freely at international competitions. 

Although an important step for Russian sport, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendations to ban athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus for their countries' involvement in the invasion of Ukraine would need to change before a full reintroduction of athletes.

The CAS decision - which saw an initial WADA ban of four years, halved - prohibited Russian athletes from competing under the flag, anthem and name of the country at international events, also restricting the nation from hosting major international events and sports administrators holding positions if they were a Russian Government official.

This was in response to the cover-up of the state-sponsored doping programme in the country.

Matytsin was hopeful of the flag and other symbols returning for the country in the near future.

"The CAS sanctions have been completed, all restrictions on Russian athletes have been lifted by this decision," he said according to Russian state news agency TASS.

"We hope and do our best so that Russian athletes return to world sports with dignity and be able to perform under the Russian flag and anthem. 

"For the duration of the sanctions, the Russian side fully implemented the CAS decision, including the fulfilment of financial obligations.

"The results of the recent Olympic Summit in Lausanne confirm that an effective dialogue is the only way out of this situation. 

"Our country has repeatedly confirmed the status of a reliable partner, demonstrating the highest level of holding major sporting events and providing serious competition to athletes at the Olympic Games and World Championships. 

"Russia is now operating one of the most effective systems of measures to prevent doping in sports, Russian anti-doping legislation is fully consistent with the convention, this fact has been repeatedly confirmed by UNESCO and the Council of Europe."

Although this ban being lifted is a welcome sign for Russians, RUSADA is still regarded as non-compliant with WADA, with this status allowing room to still prohibit the participation of athletes, not award hosting rights to the country and ban their flag at events. 

RUSADA still remains under supervision, of which it pays WADA for up to six site visits a year.

WADA said that while it remains disappointed with the CAS decision and the earlier expiration of the suspension, it would comply with the ruling.

It added that RUSADA's compliance status would be reviewed.

"RUSADA's non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code is a separate process, which did not end on December 17," said WADA in a press conference. 

"In fact, it only began on that date.

"WADA Management will initiate a comprehensive review to carefully assess whether RUSADA has met all the conditions of reinstatement as laid out in the CAS award. 

"Once WADA Management considers that all conditions have been met, it will refer the matter to the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) for its review. 

"If the CRC agrees, it will make a recommendation to the WADA Executive Committee. 

"Failure to meet the reinstatement conditions in full would lead to RUSADA's non-compliance status being maintained until such time as they have been met."

WADA President Witold Bańka said a virtual audit in September still found a number of non-conformities.

The IOC has recently welcomed Russian officials to the Olympic Summit, suggesting a pathway could be implemented for participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a removal of its recommendations, despite the ongoing war.

If this happens, RUSADA's non-compliance status would be even more significant.