EDITOR:

On the topic of male-to-female transgender athletes competing with biologic females, persons smarter than I have said this issue can be discussed in five categories: 1. Science; 2. Morality; 3. Ethics; 4. Popularity; and 5. Power. In this letter, I will confine myself to science. I actually have special knowledge about musculoskeletal development, but no particular knowledge about morality, ethics, popularity, or power.

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCCA), on approximately January 19, 2022, issued confusing new rules concerning participation in sports by transgender athletes. Some critics say that the rules are deliberately confusing.

I have distilled the rules down to these: 1. A transgender male-to-female athlete (TA) must be on testosterone suppression therapy for a year before competing against biologic females (In practice, this would be nearly impossible to monitor). 2. A TA must have a testosterone level measured within 4 weeks before a major competitive meet (I did not find what level of testosterone would be disqualifying). 3. A TA who would be banned by the two rules above may appeal. These rules concentrate on knowing the TA’s testosterone today.

But it is not today’s testosterone that confers a competitive advantage to an adult athlete. The advantage of testosterone results from the presence of testosterone from about age 12 years to about 18 years. During this time, testosterone causes muscles to grow bigger and stronger, bones to grow denser and stronger, tendons and ligaments to grow stronger, and joints to become more stable (as compared to a person growing up without a lot of testosterone). From about age 19 years to 22 years, testosterone causes the shoulder girdle to widen, by growing the length of the clavicles and encouraging growth of the pectoral muscles. Withdrawing testosterone from an adult does not reverse any of these changes.

By ignoring the real physiological advantages conferred by testosterone during musculoskeletal development, the NCAA’s new rules will fail to re-establish fairness.

Ralph Blasier

Escanaba