Faith Duncan

Prof. Hellmers

Eng. 1201

9 July, 2020

Literature Review

Throughout sports history, there have been drastic differences in performance between

men and women. These differences are especially prevalent in endurance sports. In certain

events, the time differences between the elite men’s and women’s field are minuscule, while they

are much greater in different events. This research essay demonstrates and explains how

testosterone affects performance in these different event areas. The research provided also

demonstrates that it is indeed necessary to keep the men’s and women’s fields separated based

on testosterone levels, as many sources show that testosterone is a main factor in terms of

performance. In Richard Clark’s article regarding separation of elite fields based on testosterone,

he explains that testosterone has a history as a performance enhancing drug, and that it has

similar effects naturally, providing some with an unfair advantage.

The article, “Impossible ‘Choices’” by Katrina Karkazis and Morgan Carpenter supports

some of the scientific claims made regarding testosterone in sport, sharing some of the IAAF

(International Association of Athletics Federation) studies which demonstrate how some events

serve as more of an “even playing-field” no matter the testosterone level. The article also shares

some tidbits of a recent IAAF ruling in regards to this, stating that “They require women with

higher natural levels of testosterone and androgen sensitivity who compete in a set of "restricted"

events to lower their testosterone levels to below a designated threshold.” However, the article

also explains that because natural testosterone limits cannot be controlled, individuals should
have the ability to choose weather or not they compete in the women’s field. This contrasts the

works of Michael Bostwick and Michael Joyner, who acknowledge that, yes, an individual’s

natural testosterone levels are not controllable (or they would be unnatural) and can be

considered another “advantageous genetic trait”, but, setting testosterone limits in sport is the

only way to establish fairness between the male and female fields; elite women need a

testosterone limit to be considered “female” in the sport. Determining sex in sport by anatomy

and chromosomes are the wrong methods.

In short, most sources would conclude that testosterone serves as a large performance-

enhancer in sport; It is the primary hormone that makes men better athletes than women. Most

sources also conclude that setting testosterone limits to distinguish between the male and female

fields is the best way to go about it, as testosterone levels affect your anatomy (another

performance affector), and it is difficult to test chromosomes accurately. On the other hand,

many find this to be an invasion of privacy, or feel that it is not an issue as people should be able

to choose their gender in the sport. I would like to conduct further research regarding the effects

of testosterone in certain event areas, in order to discover what makes certain events “restricted.”

This could also demonstrate why ultramarathoners (male and female) run similar times

regardless of gender. In other words, I would like to learn how the effects of testosterone change

given a race distance.

Works Cited
Bostwick, J. Michael and Joyner, Michael J. “The Limits of Acceptable Biological Variation in

Elite Athletes: Should Sex Ambiguity be Treated Differently From Other Advantageous Genetic

Traits?” Mayo Clinic Proceedings,

June 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538474/ Accessed: 5 July ,

2020

Canny, P.J. And Moon, Jordan. “Physiological and Psychological Effects of Testosterone on

Sport Performance: A Critical Review of Literature”. The Sport Journal,

Vol. 21, 29 June 2015, https://thesportjournal.org/article/physiological-and-

psychological-effects-of-testosterone-on-sport-performance-a-critical-review-of-

literature/ Accessed: 5 July, 2020

Clark, Richard et al. “Large Divergence in testosterone concentrations Between Men and

Women: Frame of reference for Elite Athletes in Sex-Specific Competition in Sports, a Narrative

Review”. Wiley Online Library,

23 Aug 2018, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cen.13840 Accessed: 5

July, 2020

Karkazis, Katrina and Carpenter, Morgan. “Impossible ‘Choices’: The Inherent Harms of

Regulating Women’s Testosterone in Sport”. EBSCO Host,

Vol.15 issue 4, Dec 2018, p579-587, Academic Search Database, https://web-b-

ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=1840c273-9ae5-4ef4-

abb4-915f7af98b83%40pdc-v-sessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d

%3d Accessed: 5 July, 2020

Van Goozen, Stephanie et al. “Anger and Aggression in Women: Influence of Sports Choice and

Testosterone Administration”. EBSCO Host,

Vol. 20 Issue 3, 1994, p213-222. Academic Search Database, https://web-a-ebscohost-

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=c86edf8f-4781-4ccd-bce7-

53f2a6529afe%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

Accessed: 5 July, 2020