IAAF to adopt gender rules

World athletics' governing body said in a statement the guidelines were the culmination of an 18-month study of hyperandrogenism and had been drawn up by IAAF experts working closely with the International Olympic Committee's medical commission.

Higher levels of androgens are what give men an advantage in sport, which is why men and women compete separately.

The gender issue has been a hot topic since South Africa's world 800 metres champion Caster Semenya (pictured) was banned from competition following gender verification tests in August 2009.

She was cleared to return by the IAAF in July last year.

The IAAF Council, meeting in Daegu, South Korea ahead of the world championships later this year, said female athletes with the condition could still compete in women's events providing the levels of androgens were below the male range.

However, there is some leeway for a female athlete presenting levels in the male range as long as she has "an androgen resistance which means that she derives no competitive advantage from such levels".

The IAAF said it had set up a panel of experts to independently review cases and make recommendations and the medical process would be conducted under strict confidentiality.

An athlete who chooses not to cooperate or fails to comply with the process will not be allowed to compete, it added. The new regulations will come into force on May 1.