The International Paralympic Committee has issued a blanket ban on the entire Russian team for Rio because of the country's state-sponsored doping regime.

Fearnley, 35, said he had no idea whether rival, Russian Aleksei Bychenok, was caught up in the program.

"I'm going to message Aleksei and wish him the best and hope that I see him in Toyko. [But] I won't be competing," he said.

"He's a young kid, a young kid that grew up in Siberia and he lost both legs. I have no idea whether he's involved in what went down there."

But Fearnley said the IPC had no alternative other than to take action against the entire Russian team.

"If we're sitting at home and everyone finds out that ASADA are negotiating special deals, I would expect that I wouldn't be here," he said.

Given the honour of co-captaining the large Australian contingent alongside close friend Daniela Di Toro, Fearnley said the mood around the team was special.

"My feel within this team is that we're a lot more cohesive than previous games," he said.

"I can't wrap up Dani enough … She is one of the most caring, genuine people that I have ever met. She has really been riding this culture and creating this from day dot.

"I've had some great teams … [but] this one has got something special about it."

The team features 89 debutants and Fearnley said some simple words of advice for those first-timers  "My reinforcement from me, and I'm sure Dani would be the same, was: you're here, you've justified every single hurdle so far – you've nailed it.

"At the end of the day, when I'm looking at a 14, 15 year old kid, I don't give a shit what they bring home. I hope it's a gold because that gold is just awesome. I hope it's a medal because that moment is incredible.

"[But] I look at them now and they don't change in a week's time.

"You want them to feel comfortable and happy and regardless of the result, awesome."

However, the Australian team received a bombshell only days before competition when it was revealed that cyclist Michael Gallagher had tested positive to EPO and was sent home from Rio.

Gallagher later took to social media to apologise for crossing the "dark line" into cheating and said he had turned to performance-enhancing drugs because he was unable to train like he used to.

Fearnley was reluctant to comment on his former teammate's situation.

"It's so far away from what I have any knowledge of. You'd know more about it than what we would," he said.

"I feel for the bloke. I hope he stays in the sport."