Sebastian Coe believes that the decision made by the international athletics federation World Athletics (WA) is to protect women's classes in athletics.
This is absolutely the way to go, he says according to international media.
We want to protect the female category and will do everything in our power to do so.
Coe believes that a saliva test is not too intrusive on personal integrity and he thinks the new policy will be legal.
I would never have chosen this path to protect women's classes in sports if I wasn't prepared to take on the challenge, he says.
Athletics has previously had rules that prevent women with naturally high testosterone levels from competing unless they medically lower the levels of the male sex hormone.
Furthermore, transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty are not allowed to compete in women's classes.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) thinks that gender testing is a bad idea, but the newly elected chairperson Kirsty Coventry does not rule it out.
I want to gather the international federations and come up with a common path for all of us, she says to Sky Sports.
WA is expected to introduce gender testing ahead of the World Championship in Tokyo in September, according to Sky Sports.
