The East German doping scandal is a tragic blueprint for the health effects of testosterone on female bodies. If known more widely, it could help both detransitioned and trans-identified women.
Thanks Sarah for a reminder of this truly awful period for women in athletics. The data is clear. I competed in the 80s at the Olympic level in rowing. The Eastern Bloc women were enormous compared to other countries. They were hairy, had bad skin, deep voices and they were unbeatable. We knew then what our eyes could see and the international govering body (World Rowing) and the Olympic Committee refused to address it. We find ourselves 50 years later in exactly the same position with both organizations: they know and they refuse to do anything. Truly disgusting and detrimental treatment for women.
Thanks for this! Given what we know about the deleterious effects of testosterone use in women (and men), it's impossible to imagine trans-identified women would not also suffer these impacts. As you say, the body does not care about intent
Thank you Paul. It’s so important that people understand the grim reality of this so called gender affirming care.
I remember watching these almost super-human Eastern European athletes on television, and then later hearing how they’d been doped without knowing. I felt truly horrified by what they’d been subjected to and the effect it was having on their female bodies.
Now my own trans id daughter is 8 years medicalised. She estranged us before starting T because we had concerns about this very issue. I’ve no idea how she’s doing, but recent pictures I’ve been shown of her are shocking and I can hardly bear to think about the internal harms. It’s unbelievable that doctors are enabling this medical scandal to be enacted upon a new generation of young women.
Might you know the population averages for these conditions at these ages?
I know the sample isn't representative. It's just that I believe some gynecological problems are common, for instance fibroids and cysts, depending upon age.
" 2018 study found that 25 % of doped athletes suffered from cardiovascular disease, 27 % had tumors and 27 % of female athletes suffered from gynecological problems
A 2024 study found that 21 of 56 female athletes suffered from miscarriages, 50 out of 56 suffered from gynecological problems. The athletes today are on average 55 years. Overall, 25 of 107 athletes had cancers in various forms, 35 out of 107 heart issues, 10 out of 107 were epileptic, 13 out of 107 had lung issues and 94 of them were suffering from joint pain."
that's a great question. I don't to be honest, but I could check. The article just mentioned somewhere that these numbers are unusually high, even for said age group. It fits together with all other research that says the incidence of these health issue is just incredibly high.
Sharron Davies (UK top swimmer) has written about the East German doping scandal and the male advantage in sports in her book Unfair Play. She has had to endure a lot of abuse for speaking out against gender affirming 'health' care.
I am so grateful to the writers and researchers who do this work. Just reading about it makes me feel so upset, teary and enraged simultaneously, so to think of writers and researchers who just stay calm and keep documenting what needs to be documented in the service of women and girls suffering the side-effects of being dosed with testosterone in the service of one or another state-backed ideology: hand on my heart to you.
I've referred to the doping scandal when discussing the effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children and young adults with people who agree with this practice. I get several types of response. Firstly people say that I'm making things up (presumably they know nothing of sport in the 1970s and 80s); the next response is to say that circumstances are different, and, finally, some people find what I've said funny which I find appalling.
Knowing what's come to light from the doping scandal and the effects that it's had on people's lives and well-being, I'm horrified that medical practitioners who supposedly should 'do no harm' are content to prescribe drugs which invariably will damage vulnerable children and young people. We're letting doctors conduct an unregulated experiment on these children. This is NOT the right side of history.
There's one modern (2024) followup study on girls & young women on testosterone that I know of, that showed most experience pelvic floor dysfunction, including bladder problems (69.1%), sexual dysfunction (52.9%), anorectal symptoms (45.6%), and flatal incontinence (39.7%):
Thanks for this! Knowing what we do about the deleterious effects of testosterone, it's impossible to imagine trans-identified women would not also suffer the same effects. As you say, the body does not care about intent
For more detail on the East German scandal see Unfair Play by Sharron Davies. In the 1980 Olympics she got a silver medal when she was beaten in the 400 metres medley final by an East German!
Thank you for mentioning what NO ONE seems to be saying about testosterone: that it is a known teratogen, that it causes birth defects in babies whose mothers take it while pregnant.
The book "Faust's Gold" is an excellent reference about this appalling behavior. There is no need for any more research studies about the effects of testosterone on natal females; it wrecks bodies, minds and has a deleterious effect on following generations. https://lucyleader.substack.com/p/does-testosterone-maketh-the-man
I agree. We know most what's in store ans the troubling thing is that none of it is suprising. I just thought there could be some extra value added by looking at all these studies that specifically look into the doping scandal. Mostly because they are written in German and that's my mother tongue. Also, it's a personal issue to me, my dad's was a volleyballer, received steroids and died of a cancer that typically does not occur among women.
Thank you for your excellent article and for explaining this personal connection, Paul. That's sad about your father. I'm a bit confused about why you mentioned that his cancer typically doesn't occur among women, since your dad was not a woman.
Great article! This kind of information should be made available in the “informed consent” that these poor, young trans-identifying people are signing in order to get on testosterone. I remember hearing about the East German women and what was done to them with the steroids years ago. I also remember Jim Carrey used to impersonate a masculinized East German woman on Living Color as a joke. We have the evidence— we know what this does to women. I’m just a Mom and I know how harmful taking wrong-sex hormones is and there’s no excuse for these doctors doing this to these young people. But we know they’re all going to play stupid. I hope every doctor and nurse practitioner who prescribes this loses their licenses to practice medicine.
Thanks Sarah for a reminder of this truly awful period for women in athletics. The data is clear. I competed in the 80s at the Olympic level in rowing. The Eastern Bloc women were enormous compared to other countries. They were hairy, had bad skin, deep voices and they were unbeatable. We knew then what our eyes could see and the international govering body (World Rowing) and the Olympic Committee refused to address it. We find ourselves 50 years later in exactly the same position with both organizations: they know and they refuse to do anything. Truly disgusting and detrimental treatment for women.
WOW! Great share Valerie. Thank you.
Thanks for this! Given what we know about the deleterious effects of testosterone use in women (and men), it's impossible to imagine trans-identified women would not also suffer these impacts. As you say, the body does not care about intent
Thank you Paul. It’s so important that people understand the grim reality of this so called gender affirming care.
I remember watching these almost super-human Eastern European athletes on television, and then later hearing how they’d been doped without knowing. I felt truly horrified by what they’d been subjected to and the effect it was having on their female bodies.
Now my own trans id daughter is 8 years medicalised. She estranged us before starting T because we had concerns about this very issue. I’ve no idea how she’s doing, but recent pictures I’ve been shown of her are shocking and I can hardly bear to think about the internal harms. It’s unbelievable that doctors are enabling this medical scandal to be enacted upon a new generation of young women.
I am so sorry and I hope for the best! Sending lots of compassion to whereever you live!
Thank you Paul, and for everything you’re doing. We’re in the UK.
So sorry that you and your family are going through this 🫂.
That must be so painful for you Mona. I hope you have some way of processing that helps to mitigate the suffering. I can't even imagine.
Thank you Paul for this excellent article!
Thank you!
Might you know the population averages for these conditions at these ages?
I know the sample isn't representative. It's just that I believe some gynecological problems are common, for instance fibroids and cysts, depending upon age.
" 2018 study found that 25 % of doped athletes suffered from cardiovascular disease, 27 % had tumors and 27 % of female athletes suffered from gynecological problems
A 2024 study found that 21 of 56 female athletes suffered from miscarriages, 50 out of 56 suffered from gynecological problems. The athletes today are on average 55 years. Overall, 25 of 107 athletes had cancers in various forms, 35 out of 107 heart issues, 10 out of 107 were epileptic, 13 out of 107 had lung issues and 94 of them were suffering from joint pain."
that's a great question. I don't to be honest, but I could check. The article just mentioned somewhere that these numbers are unusually high, even for said age group. It fits together with all other research that says the incidence of these health issue is just incredibly high.
Sharron Davies (UK top swimmer) has written about the East German doping scandal and the male advantage in sports in her book Unfair Play. She has had to endure a lot of abuse for speaking out against gender affirming 'health' care.
I am so grateful to the writers and researchers who do this work. Just reading about it makes me feel so upset, teary and enraged simultaneously, so to think of writers and researchers who just stay calm and keep documenting what needs to be documented in the service of women and girls suffering the side-effects of being dosed with testosterone in the service of one or another state-backed ideology: hand on my heart to you.
❤
Thank you for this research. It needs to be as widely distributed as possible. Ot could save the health, and even lives, of many people.
I've referred to the doping scandal when discussing the effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children and young adults with people who agree with this practice. I get several types of response. Firstly people say that I'm making things up (presumably they know nothing of sport in the 1970s and 80s); the next response is to say that circumstances are different, and, finally, some people find what I've said funny which I find appalling.
Knowing what's come to light from the doping scandal and the effects that it's had on people's lives and well-being, I'm horrified that medical practitioners who supposedly should 'do no harm' are content to prescribe drugs which invariably will damage vulnerable children and young people. We're letting doctors conduct an unregulated experiment on these children. This is NOT the right side of history.
Thank You!
There's one modern (2024) followup study on girls & young women on testosterone that I know of, that showed most experience pelvic floor dysfunction, including bladder problems (69.1%), sexual dysfunction (52.9%), anorectal symptoms (45.6%), and flatal incontinence (39.7%):
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-024-05779-3
The Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine does a good job of keeping track of the current available research:
https://segm.org/studies
Thanks for this! Knowing what we do about the deleterious effects of testosterone, it's impossible to imagine trans-identified women would not also suffer the same effects. As you say, the body does not care about intent
Great reminder, Paul, thanks.
For more detail on the East German scandal see Unfair Play by Sharron Davies. In the 1980 Olympics she got a silver medal when she was beaten in the 400 metres medley final by an East German!
Have cross posted
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/am-i-allowed-any-dignity
Dusty
Thank you for mentioning what NO ONE seems to be saying about testosterone: that it is a known teratogen, that it causes birth defects in babies whose mothers take it while pregnant.
Spell check, please!
“And if the childrem made it to the world, an unsually large proportion continues to suffer from chronic illnesses.”
thanks! I am a sloppy proofreader..
The book "Faust's Gold" is an excellent reference about this appalling behavior. There is no need for any more research studies about the effects of testosterone on natal females; it wrecks bodies, minds and has a deleterious effect on following generations. https://lucyleader.substack.com/p/does-testosterone-maketh-the-man
I agree. We know most what's in store ans the troubling thing is that none of it is suprising. I just thought there could be some extra value added by looking at all these studies that specifically look into the doping scandal. Mostly because they are written in German and that's my mother tongue. Also, it's a personal issue to me, my dad's was a volleyballer, received steroids and died of a cancer that typically does not occur among women.
Thank you for your excellent article and for explaining this personal connection, Paul. That's sad about your father. I'm a bit confused about why you mentioned that his cancer typically doesn't occur among women, since your dad was not a woman.
Oh gosh I was meant to write 'dad's cousin.' Sorry for the confusion..
That makes more sense! ; )
Great article! This kind of information should be made available in the “informed consent” that these poor, young trans-identifying people are signing in order to get on testosterone. I remember hearing about the East German women and what was done to them with the steroids years ago. I also remember Jim Carrey used to impersonate a masculinized East German woman on Living Color as a joke. We have the evidence— we know what this does to women. I’m just a Mom and I know how harmful taking wrong-sex hormones is and there’s no excuse for these doctors doing this to these young people. But we know they’re all going to play stupid. I hope every doctor and nurse practitioner who prescribes this loses their licenses to practice medicine.