Russia’s road back to competing in international athletics begins next month with the first visit from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Taskforce.

The first meeting between Rune Andersen, the independent chairperson of the IAAF Taskforce, and Gennady Aleshin, chairperson of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Coordination Committee, has been pencilled in for 10-11 January 2016.

The pair have been respectively appointed by the IAAF and the ROC to supervise the inspection and verification process as the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) attempts to satisfy the Reinstatement Conditions laid out by the athletics governing body last week.

ARAF must satisfy the Taskforce that it has met, and will continue to meet, the conditions in order for Russian athletics to be recommended for IAAF membership once again.

It follows the publication of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s seismic report last month, which alleged several instances of doping in Russian athletics. Russia has since been suspended from international competition.

“Yesterday’s meeting marked the formal beginning of our work to confirm Russia’s commitment to the verification process,” said Andersen. “We have established a good working relationship as the basis of our future discussions and meetings together.”