Thread by @FondOfBeetles

Comment on: “Sport and Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the Literature Relating to Sport Participation and Competitive Sport Policies”

Andrew Richardson and Mark Chen
Sports Medcine, 2020

link.springer.com/content/pdf/10…

"We read with significant interest the work produced by Jones et al. regarding transgender athletes’ experiences. However, there are two contentious issues that need further discussion."

My note: Jones' review here link.springer.com/article/10.100…

"First, the contention that transgender females have no athletic advantage at any stage of transitioning when competing against cisgendered females is highly questionable, as there is evidence to the contrary."

"Second, the sporting policies provided to support the inclusion of transgender females seem to omit sports that require the physical components of strength, power, size, combat skills and speed. These sports would present a greater athletic advantage for transgendered females."

"The authors have made a significant start in this area, but a more nuanced argument is needed to understand the inclusion policies aimed at this special population."

My note: The commentary then lists notable examples where transgender women athletes have clear advantages over females, namely Laurel Hubbard (Olympic weightlifting), Mary Gregory (powerlifting), Hannah Mouncey (AFL, handball), Fallon Fox (MMA)...

...Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood (track running; see Soule et al. v Connecticut Association of
Schools; link below).

adfmedia.org/files/SouleCom…

"We propose that there needs to be more research on transgendered females’ physiological capabilities within strength, size, power, and combat sports."

"Use of the methodological and statistical approach of USAPL shows the quantifiable impact of allowing males to transition to females and compete in a strength sport."

My note: Kris Hunt at USAPL here.

usapowerlifting.com/wp-content/upl…

"Of the two studies mentioned by Jones et al., the most relevant to transgender women, Gooren and Bunck, found that post androgen deprivation of testosterone for their male to female group still produced a larger mean muscle mass over their non treated female to male group."

My note: Gooren and Bunck 2004 here.

eje.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/…

And relevant figure here.

"Although Harper found no overall differences in race times for transgender female endurance athletes pre or post their gender transition, (5k to marathon distances), the focus of this critique is on sports demanding athletes having larger muscle mass and testosterone levels..."

"...to suit strength, speed and power sports, not endurance sports."

My note: Harper study here.

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1e6a/bd2c1e03b…

"More research is required in this area to create the appropriate international sporting body legislation for more sports to adhere to on this matter."

End/

From the original authors. Please pay close attention to use of quotation marks above. The majority of the text is *not* mine. I am double-checking whether the authors are happy with my extensive quoting.

https://twitter.com/arichie17/status/1285609002446073856?s=20