Citing national coach Artem Petrakov, TASS, Russia's state-run news agency, reports that Repilov was able to train yesterday thanks to passing consecutive coronavirus tests.

However, after a subsequent positive test, Repilov is back in isolation and cannot train.

Repilov's brother Pavel has also tested positive since the Russian team arrived at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre - a crucial Beijing 2022 venue - and the squad's build-up to the season-opening World Cup has therefore been severely disrupted. 

"The situation is very strange, we asked for support from the Russian Olympic Committee," Petrakov told TASS, adding that the International Olympic Committee had also been contacted. 

German Olympic champions Natalie Geisenberger and Felix Loch have also expressed concern over the implementation of COVID-19 countermeasures at the event, 

Geisenberger, a four-time Olympic champion, was quarantined by organisers after initially being deemed to be a close contact of a passenger on a flight who tested positive.

Geisenberger complained about the food athletes were given, an inability to exercise and a lack of communication.

Two athletes were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Beijing 2022 test event last week.

The duo were said to be asymptomatic.

The International Luge Federation (FIL) told insidethegames that the total number other athletes who have tested positive for coronavirus since arriving in China is now three, but that the third athlete will be allowed to return to training tomorrow after a subsequent negative test.

The FIL did not name the athletes.

The FIL has already introduced additional safety measures at the sliding track due to be used at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games after Poland's Mateusz Sochowicz suffered a fractured kneecap in a training crash.

Sochowicz crashed into a closed barrier that should have been open.

He cut his right leg to the bone in the accident and faces a lengthy spell out of the sport.

The season-opening World Cup begins on Saturday (November 20).