Russia has expressed an interest in hosting the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup ©Getty Images

Russia has expressed an interest in staging the 2022 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's World Cup as the country continues its attempt to add to its portfolio of hosting major events following the doping scandal.

A FIBA spokesperson confirmed to insidethegames that Russia had informed the worldwide governing body of its interest in submitting a bid for the tournament in three years' time.

Russia has not hosted the FIBA Women's World Cup since 1986 when it was part of the Soviet Union and matches were also hosted in Minsk in Belarus and Vilnius in Lithuania, as well as Moscow. 

The decision to enter the race for the event was taken at a meeting of the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) yesterday.

RBF President Andrei Kirilenko told Russia's official state news agency TASS that the organisation is likely to propose Yekaterinburg as the main host city as part of its bid.

"This is a big centre for women's basketball, the Governor of the Sverdlovsk region is very interested in this tournament," Kirilenko said.

"There is a good project for a new hall that will be built by that time."

FIBA is expected to reveal further details of the candidates for the 2022 tournament at its Congress in Beijing prior to the start of the 2019 Men's World Cup later this month.

Russia finished eighth at this year's Women's EuroBasket and have not qualified for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Russia finished eighth at this year's Women's EuroBasket and have not qualified for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

According to FIBA, a decision on the 2022 host is set to be made by its Central Board in the first-half of next year.

Should Russia's bid be successful, the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup would become the latest event to be awarded to Russia following the lifting of the suspension of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) last September.

The reinstatement of RUSADA allowed International Federations to resume awarding events to the country and Russia has since been chosen to host the 2020 European Weightlifting Championships and the Women's World Boxing Championships this year.

The Men's World Boxing Championships are also scheduled to be held in Russia in 2019.

Russia's women's basketball team finished eighth at this year's EuroBasket and have failed to qualify for next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"It is very painful for us that the team with good potential will not be in Tokyo," said Kirilenko. 

"It is very important to host this tournament so that our team could shine on in three years."