This coursework was completed as part of my MSc in Sport Management, Politics and International Development at Loughborough University in 2021, for which I was awarded a Distinction.

Abstract

This literature review examines the participation barriers faced by transgender women athletes in sports competitions, with particular attention to inclusive sporting environments, transgender stigma, body visibility and the challenges associated with gender identity. It explores how social attitudes, gender-segregated sporting structures and organisational policies can restrict transgender women’s access to competitive sport and contribute to exclusion and discrimination.

The review also examines the International Olympic Committee’s 2015 policy on transgender athlete participation, focusing on the debate surrounding inclusion, competitive fairness and potential physiological advantages. It considers contrasting perspectives on testosterone suppression requirements and the difficulties of developing policies that accommodate the needs of transgender women and cisgender women athletes.

Drawing on academic literature and policy discussions, the review highlights the complexity of balancing inclusion, fairness and safety in competitive sport. It argues that a single approach may not adequately address the differing circumstances across sports and recognises the need for continued research and evidence-informed policymaking. The review concludes by emphasising the importance of protecting transgender women athletes from discrimination while continuing to examine how sporting organisations can create fairer and more inclusive opportunities for participation.