You realize that most trans women undergoing HRT have less testosterone in their systems than many of their cisgender competitors, right? Women naturally have some testosterone in their body; if they have PCOS, then they have a lot (in comparison to other cis women). Trans women on HRT take medicine to block testosterone, so while their body might generate the most of all, the amount bioavailable to them after the medicine neutralizes it is less than non-PCOS cis women have. If the sports debate was about testosterone providing an unfair advantage, then we would ban cis women with PCOS from competing, but we don't.

In the case of teenagers, it's even simpler - contrary to propaganda, very very few doctors are willing to put a minor on HRT. Instead, they simply give them puberty blockers to delay the onset of puberty until they're over 18 and can decide for themselves whether to go on HRT or not. So, a 17yo trans girl is developmentally equivalent to a 10yo boy - her muscles are massively under developed compared to any of her cis competitors.

So whether adult or teen, a trans woman winning at sports is not someone with an unfair advantage; rather, it's someone with a massive disadvantage managing to win despite her handicap.

If we're considering testosterone to be a PED, perhaps we should ban everyone from sports...

On a more serious note: why not advocate for putting people into "testosterone-level groups", similar to how boxing, etc, do it with weight classes? Rather than just excluding trans women from competing.

I also feel I have to ask: how do you feel about your niece losing in competitions to cis women who have biological advantages, such as higher (natural) testosterone levels, longer limbs, bigger hands, smaller busts, etc?

Just a note, there's some studies that have shown that a massive proportion of high tier female athletes actually have chromeosone issues that would put them into the intersex category.

My niece is a competitive swimmer. If a trans woman kept her from winning the competitions she's trained so hard for, getting up at 4am for practice, spending weekends training or at meets, etc, thats absolute horse shit.

So if that trans woman also worked hard, got up at 4am for practice, and also spent weekends training and going to meets, she doesn't deserve to win after her own hard work?

Honestly, it should be up to whoever is organizing the event.

If you have a problem with how the hosts run their competition, withdraw and/or make your own.