WORLD ATHLETICS has approved the introduction of cheek swabbing to determine if an athlete is biologically female.

The global body’s president Sebastian Coe said the decision taken by the World Athletics Council was further evidence his organisation would “doggedly” protect the female category.

No timeline for the introduction of pre-clearance testing has been officially set out, but the PA news agency understands World Athletics’ intention is to have the testing in place for athletes wanting to compete in the female category at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.