The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) says a final decision on whether Russian athletes can compete at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in South Korea will be made in January.
The IPC also said on December 20 that it extended its suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee over allegations of state-sponsored doping, saying reinstatement criteria have not yet been met in full.
It also kept in place an interim measure for Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in qualification events across four winter sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and snowboard, according to a statement.
The IPC said that it is "keeping the door open" for Russia to compete at the March Paralympics in Pyeongchang for as long as possible, but warned that "January's deadline is fast approaching."
The committee banned Russia from the Summer Paralympics in Rio last year after a 2016 report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found widespread evidence of state-sponsored doping.
The most serious allegations against Russia relate to its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Following the revelations, Russia also saw its track-and-field team banned from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Early this month, the International Olympic Committee banned Russia from the February Winter Olympics but said that some Russian athletes would be allowed to compete as neutrals provided they meet certain guidelines on doping.
