Do Transgender Women Have a Competitive Edge? A Study by the American Academy of Sports Medicine

In 1954, Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. Since then, thousands of male runners have surpassed that barrier, yet no women have ever done so. This profound difference in performance prompted Professor Mark Conrad to explore fairness in athletic competition, taking it a step further by looking at the issue of the inclusion of transgender athletes competing in their preferred sex—specifically formerly male trans athletes competing as women—and the ramifications this scenario presents for the sporting world. In professional sports, the stakes are extremely high, and while many international sports federations have allowed transgender athletes to compete, they have only done so after these athletes have taken hormonal suppressants to limit their testosterone levels. As cited in a recent study by the American Academy of Sports Medicine, testosterone levels point to significant performance differences based on sex. This raises the question of whether allowing transgender athletes with elevated testosterone levels to compete as women by taking measures to “even the playing field,” is fair. Tune in to Prof. Conrad’s take on this important issue. Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional Production: Jeffrey Haynes Artwork: Pamela V. White Marketing: Michelle Miller Music: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”