Lead supervisor:
Dr Shane Heffernan 
Other supervisor(s):
- Prof Alun Williams
- Dr Marie Chollier
Start date: October 2025 (Full time)
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Sport and Exercise Science
Thematic Cluster:
Society and Well-Being Cluster
What is the way forward: Athletes with a Difference in Sex Development (DSD) in elite sport
Currently, there is limited understanding of key stakeholders’ (athletes, academics, policymakers and sport lawyers) voices on the inclusion of Differences of Sex Development (DSD) athletes in elite sport, despite calls for more research, continually changing eligibility policies and considerable misconceptions about DSD athletes in the media. The recent Paris Olympic Games Boxing controversies are a good example of the general misunderstanding about this group of athletes and interpretations of the category in which these athletes belong. Given the lack of knowledge and recent developments in international politics, there has never been such an unprecedented need for this work.
The athletes' voice in particular has been described as a “truly qualified knowledge expert” and should be utilised to create governing policies. These should align with the collective values of other key stakeholders, some of whom directly impact decision making and defiance of DSD individuals. The value of the proposed study is that it will provide vital knowledge to support local and international policymakers (including the highest governmental positions) in developing/amending legislation and sport specific eligibility criteria and provide evidence for the legal profession when defending athlete/governing body’s rights.
This project aims to collect opinions from athletes, academics, policymakers and sport lawyers on the inclusion of DSD athletes and the concept of fairness in elite sport. The PhD will conduct structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and apply advanced analysis methods. The proposed series of studies will provide valuable insights into opinions from key stakeholders within elite sports.
Research Impact
Research examining eligibility regulations, sex verification, and performance in elite sport, with a particular focus on athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD). Current work includes being part of the DSD and Transgender Elite Sport (DATES) Study team, leading and contributing to peer-reviewed publications exploring stakeholder perspectives, policy implications, and performance comparisons in elite athletics. Research has been disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, including an accepted oral presentation at the CASES Conference 2026 titled: “Athletes with a Difference of Sex Development (DSD) perform like women and not like men in track athletics events.”
Bibliography
Fife, N.T., Shaw, A.L., Stebbings, G.K., Chollier, M., Joseph Cox, L.T., Harvey, A.N., Williams, A.G. and Heffernan, S.M., 2025. Eligibility of Athletes With a Difference in Sex Development in Elite Sport: Opinions of National, Elite and World Class Athletes. European Journal of Sport Science, 25(5), p.e12300.
Camporesi, S., Heffernan, S.M., Borry, P., Brehaut, J., Cable, T., Cooper, J., Cox, L., Duval, A., Fife, N., Gollish, S. and Guppy, F.M., 2026. Harmful anachronism: World Athletics reinstates gene testing to participate in women’s competitions. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 60(7), pp.497-499.
Williams, A.G., Heffernan, S.M., Herbert, A.J., Hamilton, B.R., Sánchez, F.J., Gollish, S., Rutherford, A., Montgomery, H.E., McNamee, M., Camporesi, S. and Ospina‐Betancurt, J., 2024. Fair and Safe Eligibility Criteria for Women's Sport: The Proposed Testing Regime Is Not Justified, Ethical, or Viable. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 34(11), p.e14753.
Fife, N., et al. (2026) ‘Athletes with a Difference of Sex Development (DSD) perform like women and not like men in track athletics events’, oral presentation accepted at the CASES Conference 2026.