The inclusion of transgender athletes in sports has become a topic of much debate and controversy in recent years. While there is a growing acceptance of gender fluidity, the physical differences between males and females are still a significant concern, especially in sports. I will discuss the issue of male-to-female (MTF) transgender athletes competing in female sports and justify the World Athletics’ move to ban such athletes from competing in women’s events.
One of the most significant differences between males and females regarding athletic performance is the level of testosterone present in the body. Testosterone is a hormone that is primarily produced in the testes in males and ovaries in females. It plays a crucial role in the development of male sexual characteristics, such as muscle mass, bone density and body hair. The normal testosterone concentration for males is approximately 10-35 nanomoles per litre, while the normal range for females is approximately 0.5-2.5 nanomoles per litre.
Testosterone levels peak in males during adolescence and early adulthood, and it is during this time that males experience the most significant gains in strength, speed, and endurance. This hormone acts on various tissues in the body, including muscles and the brain, to enhance male sexual development and secondary sexual characteristics. It regulates muscle mass, fat distribution, bone density and even cognitive traits such as aggression. As a result, males have a clear athletic advantage over females.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has established policies to address the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. The policy allows each sporting federation to make decisions regarding the inclusion of male-to-female transgender athletes in female sports. If a transgender athlete wishes to compete with cis-gendered females, they must medically lower their testosterone levels before competing. This is done to ensure that the playing field is fair and that there is no gender-based advantage.
However, lowering testosterone levels does not completely reverse the performance advantage that males have over females. Older studies such as Bhasin et al., 1996 and Singh et al., 2003 do demonstrate a decrease in muscle mass and strength. More recent studies do support the previous findings but also made new discoveries which are more relevant to sports. Hew-Butler et al., 2008 and Galvao et al., 2008 found that the metabolic rate is not decreased, and physical performance is often not significantly decreased. This means that a transgender MTF athlete may still have some athletic advantage over cis-gendered females, even after undergoing testosterone suppression therapy. The only way to ensure that there is no gender-based advantage is to use testosterone suppression therapy before the onset of puberty. However, this raises significant ethical issues regarding consent and the long-term effects of hormone therapy.
Recently, World Athletics announced that it would ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s events. The move was based on the understanding that the suppression of testosterone levels does not eliminate the physical advantages that males have over females. The decision was not made lightly and was based on scientific evidence and consultation with experts in the field. I support the move by World Athletics based on the data we currently have available.
The ban applies to all events that are restricted to female athletes, including track and field, road running and cross-country. However, it does not apply to events that are open to all genders, such as mixed relays. The move by World Athletics is not a discriminatory move but rather a necessary one to ensure that the spirit of sport is supported and that the playing field is fair.
The inclusion of transgender athletes in sports is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. While there is growing acceptance of gender fluidity, the physical differences between males and females cannot be ignored, especially in sports. I believe that very soon other sporting disciplines will follow this move to allow for a fair space for cis-gendered female athletes to compete.
In Jamaica, we have not had a case of a transgender athlete trying to compete at the national level, but we must prepare for such possibilities and be guided by science. Until we can be confident, with scientific evidence, that transgender MTF athletes do not have a significant advantage, following whatever new therapy is developed, we cannot continue to place female athletes at a disadvantage.
Dr Aldeam Facey is a lecturer in the Faculty of Sport, Mona Campus, UWI. He received the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence for Innovation in Science 2018.
