A recent social media post by Armand Domalewski has reignited discussions surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in sports, specifically highlighting the physiological differences between biological sexes. Domalewski stated on social media, "tired of this 'if you ever disagree with trans activists, you are throwing trans people under the bus' shtick. Acknowledging that people born biologically female have on average a disadvantage in sports against people born biologically male is not throwing anybody under the bus." This statement underscores a central tension in the ongoing debate: balancing inclusion with competitive fairness.
Scientific evidence consistently shows that males, particularly after puberty, generally possess significant athletic advantages over females. These advantages stem from higher testosterone levels, which lead to greater muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular capacity. Studies indicate that the performance gap between biological males and females becomes pronounced during adolescence, with male athletic records often surpassing female records by 10-50% depending on the sport.
Major sports organizations are grappling with how to formulate policies that address these biological differences while promoting inclusivity. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and various national bodies, such as the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the NCAA, have introduced or revised guidelines, often focusing on testosterone levels. However, the effectiveness of testosterone suppression in fully mitigating male pubertal advantages remains a subject of scientific debate and ongoing research.
For instance, World Aquatics, the global governing body for swimming, adopted a policy effectively barring transgender women who transitioned after age 12 from competing in women's events, instead exploring an "open category." Similarly, World Athletics has tightened restrictions on transgender women who have gone through male puberty. These decisions reflect a growing emphasis by some organizations on biological factors to ensure a level playing field in women's sports.
The debate involves diverse perspectives, with advocates for transgender inclusion emphasizing the importance of participation for mental and physical well-being, while others prioritize the preservation of a protected category for biological females. The varying policies across different sports and regions highlight the complexity of the issue, as organizations strive to reconcile principles of fairness, safety, and inclusion for all athletes.