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Evidence on sex differences in sports performance
Michael J Joyner1,2, Sandra K Hunter3, Jonathon W Senefeld4
1Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|December 24, 2024
Summary
Males exhibit significant performance advantages over females in sports due to sex-steroid hormones. This scientific evidence informs policies for fair sex categories in athletics.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Human Performance
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Sex differences in athletic performance are a significant topic of scientific and public interest.
- High-profile cases involve transgender athletes and athletes with differences of sex development (DSDs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review scientific evidence relevant to sex-based eligibility criteria in sports.
- To provide a framework for policy decisions regarding sex categories in athletics.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on sex differences in athletic performance.
- Analysis of the impact of sex-steroid hormones on performance metrics.
- Examination of performance disparities before and after puberty.
Main Results:
- Profound sex differences exist in strength, speed, power, endurance, and body size, with males generally outperforming females.
- These performance differences are evident before puberty and amplify significantly during and after puberty.
- Sex-steroid hormones are the primary drivers of these observed sex-based performance disparities.
Conclusions:
- Scientific evidence supports distinct sex categories in sports based on performance differences.
- Understanding the role of sex hormones is crucial for developing fair and inclusive sports policies.
- These findings offer a framework for addressing eligibility criteria for transgender and DSD athletes.
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