IIHF President Luc Tardif suggested in September that China could be prevented from playing in the men's event at Beijing 2022 because of the team's "insufficient sporting standard".

The Chinese side automatically qualified for Beijing 2022 as hosts, but Tardif raised concerns over the possibility of the home team being comfortably beaten in all of their matches, and the impact that would have on the tournament and the sport as a whole.

Should the IIHF Council decide to exclude China, the country would be the first Olympic host nation to be axed from the ice hockey tournament at their home Games.

China are ranked 32 in the men's world rankings and could be replaced by Norway, 11th in the world, if the Council chooses to boot China out of the event.

"Watching a team being beaten 15-0 is not good for anyone, not for China, or for ice hockey," Tardif told Agence France-Presse in September.

"If it is not possible for China, we need a plan 'B' and it will be (decided) by the ‘ranking’ of Norway."

The IIHF has insisted China's place in the women's competition is safe as they are deemed to be more competitive than their men's side.

China have been drawn with reigning world champions Canada, the United States and Germany in Group A of the men's tournament at Beijing 2022.