Rio 2016: Russia doping could lead to Paralympics ban

This week's McLaren report found that the Russian government, its sports authorities and security services conspired to hide doping between 2011 and 2015

The Paralympic flame burns at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia (Getty)

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has "opened suspension proceedings" against Russia which could potentially result in the country's athletes being banned from the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

The extent of Russia's 'state-sponsored' doping program, which oversaw the manipulation athletes' drugs tests at major international competitions between 2011 and 2015, was revealed earlier this week in a report compiled for the World Anti-Doping Agency by Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren.

The report found that the Russian government, its sports authorities and security services conspired to hide doping at several major events - including the 2012 London Games - following a poor medals return at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The IPC expects to announce its decision on Russia's suspension in the first week of August, five weeks before the start of the Paralympics.

"McLaren's findings are of serious concern for everyone committed to clean and honest sport," Sir Philip Craven, the IPC president said.

"The additional information we have been provided with by Richard McLaren includes the names of the Para athletes associated with the 35 "disappearing positive samples" from the Moscow laboratory highlighted in the report.

"We are also urgently following up on McLaren's recommendation for 19 samples from the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games to be sent for further analysis, having been identified as part of the sample swapping regime in place during the Games."

If Russia were to be suspended from the competition, they would have 21 days to appeal.

The country is already facing the possibility of being prohibited from competing at the Rio Olympics, with the International Olympic Committee currently "exploring the legal options". A decision is expected before Sunday.