World Athletics approves cheek swabbing to determine athletes’ biological sex

World Athletics and its president Sebastian Coe have approved the introduction of cheek swabbing to determine if an athlete is biologically female. File picture: Peter Byrne/PA

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.