The debate on transgender women athletes in competitive sports has been ongoing for years, with various federations tightening participation rules. In 2023, the World Athletics Association banned athletes who have gone through male puberty from women’s competitions. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, also signed a decree banning trans women athletes from women’s sports nationally. Changes could soon affect the Olympic Games as well, with the new IOC presidency set to announce who will succeed Thomas Bach.

A recent DW Fact check notes that men and women are assessed separately in most sports due to fundamental sex differences dictated by their sex chromosomes and sex hormones at puberty. Trans women, who were assigned to the male sex at birth but identify as female, also have these advantages, even after undergoing hormone therapy as part of gender reassignment surgery.

Incidentally, trans identity is often confused with intersexuality in the public debate, but intersex people have both male and female sexual characteristics from birth.

A 2024 study found that while trans women who participated had advantages in certain athletic parameters, they performed worse than cis women in others. The study warned against a precautionary exclusion and suggested that one year of hormone therapy prescribed as a prerequisite for participation by some sports associations is too short.

Puberty plays a significant role in the differences between boys and girls in terms of athletic performance. Before puberty, there are fewer differences, but they become more apparent as the testosterone level in boys increases. Some studies suggest that the differences before puberty are greater than previously assumed.

The results show continued advantage even before puberty, casting doubt on whether hormone therapy could level the playing field for trans athletes. Opinions differ on the extent to which fair competition is possible, but experts agree that more studies on the athletic performance of trans people in elite sports are needed. The issue of fairness must also be weighed against that of inclusion, as stated by the International Olympic Committee.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-do-trans-women-have-an-unfair-athletic-advantage/a-58583988?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf