Reacción a "A review finds no differences in physical performance between trans women and cis women, even though they have more muscle mass"

The article attempts to shed light on an important social debate in which science has yet to have its say: the participation of transgender people in competitive sports, especially transgender women.

It is a systematic review of the literature to date, including a total of 52 studies. The article highlights a series of data that are of interest when it comes to justifying or not the participation of transgender people in sport.

It shows that there is no significant difference in lean body composition or upper and lower body strength between cis women and trans women after 1-3 years of hormone treatment. There are also no differences in cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, there is no evidence that trans women are stronger or have greater muscle mass or endurance, as has been suggested in the public debate.

Furthermore, in comparisons between trans women undergoing hormone treatment and cis men, trans women do have lower results in terms of lean mass, upper and lower body strength, and cardiometabolic performance than cis men.

Trans men do have greater strength and muscle mass than cis women, but they do not reach the values achieved by cis men.

Although the review has some limitations, such as the lack of studies on elite athletes and the lack of studies on specific sports events, it gives us two clear messages: there is no evidence to support the claims that trans women have greater strength and endurance than cis women, and that exposure to testosterone prior to hormone treatment in trans women does not lead to better physical conditions for sport.

Therefore, contrary to the opinion that trans people should not compete in their gender categories, this systematic review shows us that there is no scientific justification for this discrimination in sport.