The Disagreement Trans Athletes & Elite Sports
Feb 11, 2025
Doriane Coleman, a Duke Law professor and elite track athlete, and Joanna Harper, a medical physicist and sports researcher, dive into the heated debate surrounding trans athletes in elite sports. They tackle complex questions about biological advantages and fairness, focusing on the impact of hormone therapy. The conversation highlights the need for nuanced policies that respect gender identity while ensuring competitive integrity. They also discuss the political implications and challenges faced by trans individuals in sports, emphasizing open dialogue and mutual respect.
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Biological Male Advantage Explains Categories
- There is a significant performance gap between male and female athletes mainly due to testosterone-driven male puberty.
- This gap necessitates separate male and female sports categories to ensure fairness in competition.
Testosterone Suppression Partially Mitigates Advantage
- Testosterone suppression in trans women mitigates but does not eliminate physical advantages from male puberty.
- Governing bodies should require trans women to suppress testosterone to female levels for meaningful competition.
Female Category Designed To Exclude Male Traits
- The female sports category is defined to exclude the male biological advantage.
- Inclusion of trans women who underwent male puberty inherently conflicts with the female category's intent.