Although athletes from Russia and Belarus have been largely excluded from international sport since the invasion of Ukraine in February last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is controversially "exploring a pathway" for their return which could allow them to compete under "strict conditions" of neutrality at next year's Olympics.

The COC has said it is "open" to the IOC's proposal, although it supports the current recommendations.

The 42 athletes have criticised its stance.

"We condemn recent public statements issued by the COC supporting the 'exploration of a pathway' for Russians and Belarusians to compete as 'neutrals' in the 2024 Paris Olympics," they said.

"Opening the door to 'neutral' Russian and Belarusian participation - and by doing so walking back the sanctions that have been in place since the start of the war - sends a message that the COC is no longer concerned with Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine."

They claimed that Russian athletes' participation as neutrals at Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 under the Olympic Athletes of Russia and Russian Olympic Committee banners respectively shows that "separation of athlete from state is an impossible task".

The athletes also referenced the impact of the war on sport in Ukraine, and insisted the COC has "a moral obligation to respect basic human rights".

"We call on the COC to demonstrate leadership promoting the unifying values of peace, democracy, and equality," the open letter concluded.

"No pathway should be considered for Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in the Olympic Games, until Russia fully withdraws from Ukraine."

Canada's four-time Olympic ice hockey gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser was joined by other former Olympic champions including freestyle skiers Jennifer Heil and Alexandre Bilodeau, figure skater Tessa Virtue and cross-country skier Beckie Scott in signing the letter.

Canada was among the 35 nations who signed a joint statement calling for clarity from the IOC on the definition of "neutrality" for Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge has called for athletes from both countries to remain banned while the war is ongoing.

The COC said "we support and share this position with the Government of Canada".

Responding to the letter from athletes, the COC said it "stands in solidarity with" and condemns the invasion of Ukraine.

"We value the opinions and concerns raised by the athletes in today's letter and offered to speak with several of the signatories numerous times over the past month to discuss their views and clarify our position, including at a special meeting of the COC Board of Directors convened for that purpose," it said.

"Our position, consistent over the past year, is that we support the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sport while the invasion is ongoing.

"This is aligned with the recent statement, signed by Canada and more than 30 other nations, that call for the continuation of the ban in the absence of clarity and concrete details on a workable neutrality model."

It said that offers to meet signatories of the letter "have so far been turned down, but the door remains open".

The IOC has expressed its "solidarity" with Ukraine and vowed to ensure a "strong team" represents the country at Paris 2024 and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

However, its proposals on Russia and Belarus have sparked an angry reaction in the country.