What Science Tells Us About Trans Athletes (Originally posted on FB by Mama Bears:):
Recent research continues to shed light on the participation of transgender athletes in sports.
A comprehensive 2023 review by Assistant Professor D.J. Oberlin at Lehman College examined the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on athletic performance.
Oberlin concluded that “an individual’s sex does not determine their success or failure at any athletic event despite the high level of competition.”
The study also noted there are great variations among cisgender athletes, such as differences in height, weight, training, and more. That means in the general population there are bound to be people that are better at some sport than others, but no one seems to worry about those. "It is expected that about 2.3% of a normally distributed population is likely to fall above two standard deviations from a population mean,” Oberlin explained. “These exceptional individuals may be those who are gifted and excel at some sport or athletic performance.”
In 2024, the idea that trans women athletes have an inherent advantage over cis athletes was once again undercut by a study funded by the International Olympic Committee and conducted at the University of Brighton in England. It was published in April in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
That study found:
Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lower-body strength.
Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lung function.
Transgender women had a higher percentage of fat mass, lower fat-free mass, and weaker handgrip strength compared to cisgender men.
Transgender women’s bone density was found to be equivalent to that of cisgender women, which is linked to muscle strength.
Another common myth is the idea that boys or men might falsely claim a female identity just to compete in women’s sports. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Transitioning is a deeply personal and often difficult process—not something athletes would do just to win a competition.
The reality is that trans athletes, like all athletes, just want a fair chance to compete in the sports they love.
Therefore, science tells us:
After hormone therapy, trans women’s athletic performance aligns more closely with cisgender women.
Competitive advantage is complex and influenced by many factors, including training, skill, and individual physiology—not just gender identity.
Transgender women are likely to be at a physical disadvantage compared to cisgender athletes.
Let’s stand for inclusion, celebrate diversity in sports, and ensure that all athletes are treated with fairness and respect.
Climate systems could shift, and the ripple effects might hit us all. Time to act before the tide turns against us. 
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