Last updated on .From the section Disability Sport

We are providing a 'level playing field' - IPC President

The ban on Russia competing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics has been upheld by the International Paralympic Committee.

But Russian Para-athletes who can prove they are clean will be allowed to compete in Pyeongchang as neutrals.

Russia was banned from all Paralympic competition in August 2016 after details of state-sponsored doping.

The decision comes after all but two of the key measures needed for reinstatement, set out by an independent taskforce, were met.

The IPC said there is now a "different picture" in Russia, compared to 2016 when the country's anti-doping system was found to be "totally compromised, corrupted and open to abuse".

"Although the RPC remains suspended they have made significant progress and we have to recognise this," said IPC president Andrew Parsons.

The IPC says it expects 30 to 35 neutrals who meet "strict criteria" to compete in five of the six events - alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling.

A Russian Para-ice hockey team could not be considered as the country had missed the opportunity to qualify.

On Saturday, the International Olympic Committee issued a similar invitation to 169 Russian athletes who can compete as neutrals at February's Winter Olympics.

The Winter Paralympics begin in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday, 9 March.

In December 2016, the IPC created an independent taskforce which set the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) a number of conditions to meet.

The taskforce highlighted seven key measures that needed to be met before it could recommend the reinstatement of the RPC in September - and in December said five had still not been satisfied.

On Monday, the IPC said two of those criteria have still not been met.

The two measures are:

The full reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

The provision of an official response specifically and adequately addressing the findings of the McLaren report.

The key conditions which must be met for neutrals to compete are: