BY: EMILY TRACHOO | JULY 23, 2023
Transgender athletes participating in professional sports have been a topic of heated discussion since the 1970s. The first high-profile case involved Renee Richards; a former tennis player turned ophthalmologist who most consider to be the first transgender athlete to compete professionally. When the news of Richards’ gender-affirming surgery was revealed, the discovery sent the public into a frenzy – many declared their wholehearted support for Richards, while others were appalled at the idea of a “man” competing in women’s sports.
At the center of the debate were ideas that Richards had a physical advantage over female athletes by virtue of being male. In response to the controversy, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) requested a screening test for all female players, but Richards refused. She subsequently challenged the USTA and won in what was considered a landmark “trans rights” case. But the Court’s ruling didn’t necessarily transform the domain of transgender sports. Forty-six years later, the debate over the inclusion of trans athletes in professional sports continues. In recent years, for example, weightlifter Laurel Hubbard faced a similar challenge to Richards when she became the first openly trans woman to compete in the Olympic Games. Although she placed last in her category, Hubbard was heavily criticized for her inclusion in the Games, many again claiming that she had an inherent physical advantage over cisgender women.
Widely considered the first professional trans athlete, Richards challenged the USTA and won in what was considered a landmark “trans rights” case. (Source: Sports Illustrated)
So, what is the cause of this ambiguity? Much of the longstanding controversy can be attributed to the lack of definitive research in science. Not only has there been limited research in the field, but most of it is contradictory.
It’s well-established that men are biologically stronger than women in terms of bones, tendons, ligaments, or muscle mass-to-body mass ratio (Miller). One study, for example, found that men on average have 40% more upper body strength and 33% more lower body strength than women (Newer) – these being the result of testosterone production, which in turn increases muscle mass. So, how do these characteristics change when trans women undergo hormonal therapy, and their testosterone levels are reduced?
A systemic review from 2017 found a lack of conclusive research or direct evidence that suggests trans women have an athletic advantage over cisgender women (Jones). Joanna Harper, a sports scientist and trans woman herself, stated that an athlete’s performance is determined by several complex factors such as flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and technique – not just strength alone. Hemoglobin, for instance, is a major factor in determining endurance. And since hemoglobin levels are correlated with testosterone levels, suppressing testosterone can subsequently reduce hemoglobin and thus, endurance (“Transgender Women in Sport – the Scientists’ View”). Additionally, the efficacy of testosterone suppression varies depending on the time of exposure. For instance, men develop a significant physical advantage over women post-puberty. Therefore, if a male athlete had undergone hormone therapy before puberty, many of their advantages could potentially be minimized.
On the other hand, a study from 2020 examined US military personnel who underwent gender-affirming surgery as well as feminizing hormone therapy and found that these individuals retained a physical advantage over cisgender women even one year later. Although this gap “largely closed” two years post-therapy, a follow-up study still found that 12% of the trans women ran faster than their counterparts (“Do Trans Athletes Have an Unfair Advantage?”). A similar study found that trans women who underwent testosterone suppression largely maintained their strength after one year. These results are more pronounced for sports requiring upper body strength (“Do Trans Athletes Have an Unfair Advantage?”). Nevertheless, it may be difficult to present this argument since the focus of trans women in sports is mainly on their physical strength relative to cisgender women rather than other factors.
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard previously competed in the men’s category but later transitioned to the women’s category, most recently competing at the 2020 Olympics. (Source: The New York Times)
From current research, we can conclude that transgender women do have a biological and physical advantage over cisgender women in sports, even after feminizing hormone therapy. What is still unclear, however, is the extent of this advantage.
Most research on the effects of testosterone suppression on athletic performance is exclusively focused on strength. Even then, results are contradictory, with some studies showing a reduction of strength while others show a retention of it. Other factors may also be at play – for example, there is no known research on the effects of hormone therapy beyond two years, so it is possible that testosterone suppression kicks in much later than previously thought. Finally, strength is not the only determinant of athletic performance, as other factors such as coordination and endurance can also play a role.
The question becomes, how should governments and policymakers respond to the lack of definitive research? Should trans women be banned entirely from competing in women’s sports to prevent possible unfairness, or should they be allowed to compete with restrictions (e.g., limited testosterone levels) to ensure inclusion? When deciding, it’s worth considering not only the scientific data but the social and psychological benefits of including trans athletes in sports. For instance, how participation in sports can decrease the adverse effects of bullying and rejection amongst youth, as well as promote their mental health and well-being (The University of Kansas – School of Social Welfare).
If we are willing to compromise, I believe it is possible to meet in the middle to ensure fairness in sports whilst providing athletes with opportunities to compete alongside fellow athletes they identify with.
Works Cited
“Do Trans Athletes Have an Unfair Advantage? – DW – 07/24/2021.” Dw.Com, https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-do-trans-athletes-have-an-advantage-in-elite-sport/a-58583988. Accessed 15 July 2023.
Hilton, Emma N, and Tommy R Lundberg. “Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 51,2 (2021): 199-214. doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01389-3
Jones, Bethany Alice et al. “Sport and Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the Literature Relating to Sport Participation and Competitive Sport Policies.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 47,4 (2017): 701-716. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0621-y
Miller, A E et al. “Gender differences in strength and muscle fiber characteristics.” European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology vol. 66,3 (1993): 254-62. doi:10.1007/BF00235103
N, et al. “Arguments That Trans Athletes Have an Unfair Advantage Lack Evidence to Support.” NPR, 9 Apr. 2023. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2023/04/09/1168858094/arguments-that-trans-athletes-have-an-unfair-advantage-lacks-evidence-to-support.
Nuwer, Rachel. What If Women Were Physically Stronger than Men? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20171027-what-if-women-were-physically-stronger-than-men. Accessed 15 July 2023.
The Battle of the Sexes | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201207/the-battle-the-sexes. Accessed 15 July 2023.
The University of Kansas – School of Social Welfare. Transgender Athletes: A Research-Informed Fact Sheet.
“Transgender Women in Sport – the Scientists’ View.” BBC Sport. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/sport/61346517. Accessed 15 July 2023.
