However, elite transgender athletes have not been studied scientifically. And while testosterone’s role in physical strength and stamina is robust, studies have not been able to gauge its precise impact on performance.
Last year, World Athletics, the world governing body for track and field, which has imposed strict restrictions on runners who compete in some women’s events, corrected its own research, acknowledging that it could not find a causal relationship between high testosterone levels and enhanced athletic performance among elite female athletes.
It is not clear whether Thomas’s performance prompted FINA to pass such a strict rule about participation.
Thomas, who competed for University of Pennsylvania, was praised this year by supporters as a courageous and brave athlete. But her performance also sparked backlash. Her participation was criticized by her teammates, and a group from Princeton swimming went to the Ivy League commissioner to oppose her.
Many states have passed laws banning transgender women from competing in state-level competitions. Texas is one state that has made it illegal to provide medical assistance for transgender women who are transitioning for their children. This would prevent them from complying with the FINA regulations.
The question now is whether the swimming federation’s strict ruling will have a trickle-down effect. Harper, who supports sport-specific testosterone levels for transgender females at the international level, stated that she was concerned that local organizations might feel justified in banning transgender athletes. She cited the recent case of a 60 year-old transgender woman who was stopped from participating in a lawn-bowling competition.
“At the international level, there is some logic to do this,” she said of the restrictions. The danger, she said, is that the people making these decisions at the recreational level “will look at FINA and put these regulations on middle school kids.”
Billy Witz, Jeré Longman, Azeen GorayshiAnd Livia Albeck – RipkaContributed reporting
Source: NY Times