According to Kyodo News, the JOC are expected to issue a joint statement with the Japan Sport Association and All Japan High School Athletic Federation on the matter.

The three organisations held talks regarding the steps which could be taken to prevent photos from being taken and shared.

The discussions reportedly follow several athletes informing the JOC that they have discovered photos of themselves being shared on social media with sexually explicit captions.

Athletes have told the JOC they are easily targeted when positioning themselves during jumping events, as well as when lifting their hips in the blocks for sprint events.

Athletes have also reported cases of sexual harassment on social media to the JOC.

It comes with Japan preparing to host the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics next year.

The JOC are seeking to introduce the measures to combat harassment following the complaints, with the organisation aiming to better safeguard athletes.

Kyodo News reported that Japan's Justice Ministry is considering revisions of the law regarding sexual offences.

The news agency said there was controversy over whether the law will recognise capturing non-consensual images or video as an invasion of privacy.

Increased focus has been placed on combatting sexual harassment, following a series of scandals and social movements such as #MeToo.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach met with JOC counterpart Yamashita Yasuhiro in August, regarding the steps being taken to stop abuse and harassment within Japanese sport.

A recent report from Human Rights Watch documented how Japanese child athletes are routinely subjected to physical, sexual and verbal abuse from their coaches.

Entitled "I Was Hit So Many Times I Can't Count: Abuse of Child Athletes in Japan", the report also outlined how some athletes had taken their own lives.

Among the countermeasures in place to tackle the issue is the Governance Code for Sports Organizations which was established in 2019 and comes into force later this year.

It stipulates that athletes and coaches should have compliance education, including on harassment and abuse.

The JOC, Japan Sport Association and Japanese Para Sports Association are to monitor whether national governing bodies are compliant with the code.

The IOC announced last month it would create a dedicated international safeguarding officer in sport certificate.

A further 11 safeguarding webinars will also be made available to National Olympic Committees, while the IOC is planning to run a safe sport digital education and awareness campaign in the build-up to the postponed Tokyo 2020.

Bach said recent revelations of abuse, sexual abuse and harassment in sport had showed how the organisation needs to "strengthen our efforts in this respect".