Lord Coe has defended 'therapeutic use exemptions' (TUEs) for athletes while insisting governing bodies must police them vigilantly.
TUEs can be issued to athletes who have an illness or condition which requires the use of medication which is on World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.
Their use has become a huge talking point after the WADA website was hacked by a cyber terrorist group called the Fancy Bears.
Rio gold medallists Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Nicola Adams were among several British athletes named by the Fancy Bears as having TUEs, as well as three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
International Association of Athletics Federations president Coe told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "I think the TUEs system is a good system.
"Do we have to make sure that it is not being abused? Yes, of course. There is potential for that (exploitation), but I don't think it is commonly the case.
"Can the public have trust in it? Yes, I think they can, but it will need permanent vigilance."
Coe said the IAAF impose a "very deep process" before TUEs are granted to athletes and their numbers in the sport had actually fallen in recent years.
An asthma sufferer during his own athletics career when he said he had to use a spray, Coe insists the medical information of athletes should be protected.
"Athletes are prone to the same medical disorders as anyone else," said Coe, who revealed the IAAF had taken action to protect their own computer systems from the hackers.
