IAAF leaders are set to suspend the Russian federation on Friday, keeping the country's track and field athletes out of international competition for an indefinite period that could include next year's Olympics in Brazil.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe convenes an emergency meeting of his 27-member council via teleconference on Friday evening to vote on a provisional suspension of Russia following the damning allegations of systematic, state-sponsored doping contained in a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission.
Under heavy pressure to take tough action, Coe is expected to secure approval from the council for the maximum sanction, despite efforts by Russian officials to avoid a blanket ban by agreeing to cooperate and make reforms in their anti-doping system.
An IAAF statement listed the main agenda item of the meeting: "Decision to provisionally suspend the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) as an IAAF member."
A suspension would take effect immediately, barring Russian athletes from all international track and field events until the country can prove it has put its house in order. It would be the first time the International Association of Athletics Federations has ever banned a country over its doping record.
The Russian federation is likely to be given a month or so before appearing at a disciplinary hearing, where the IAAF could then elevate the sanction to a full suspension.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Friday he is "completely sure" that Russia will be able to compete at the Olympics.
However, the report by the WADA panel outlined a deep-rooted, systematic doping system that cast doubt on the entire Russian athletics program, making it difficult to judge which athletes are clean or not.
The IAAF council was to meet by teleconference, chaired by Coe in london.
Russia's IAAF council member, Mikhail Butov, was to present his federation's position at the start of the meeting, but then recuse himself from the debate and the vote.