An international team of researchers from Brazil conducted a comprehensive analysis of 52 scientific studies involving 6,485 participants and found no evidence that trans women, after gender-affirming hormone therapy, possess physical advantages over cisgender women in sports. Meta-analyses, which synthesize data from multiple studies to increase statistical power and help resolve conflicting results, are regarded as the gold standard of scientific evidence.
The analysis, published in the “British Journal of Sports Medicine,” examined body composition, muscular strength, and fitness, among other factors. While trans women did exhibit greater lean mass, there was no significant difference in athletic performance metrics such as upper- or lower-body strength or maximal oxygen uptake after one to three years of hormone treatment compared to cis women.
Trans women “no threat to women’s sports”
The lead researcher Bruno Gualano of the University of São Paulo described these results as an important indication that blanket bans of trans women from women’s sports are not scientifically justified. “Most of these policies rest on the assumption that trans women retain inherent physical advantages and would therefore dominate women’s competitions. The data, however, do not support this assumption.” Gualano stressed that trans women “pose no threat to women’s sports.”
The U.S. government under President Donald Trump has, for more than a year, waged a crusade against transgender people. In addition to excluding gender minorities from the military, the attacks focus primarily on trans women participating in amateur or elite sports. Under U.S. pressure, the International Olympic Committee is reportedly considering a complete ban on trans women from competitions (Queer.de reported). Whether scientific studies can halt this crusade currently appears unlikely.
