The ratio of the second and fourth digit (2D:4D) is a biomarker for performance in various sports such as fencing, rugby, football, alpine skiing, sprinting, middle- and long-distance running (Hönekopp & Schuster, 2010; Manning & Hill, 2009). The underlying reason is a putative correlation between 2D:4D and prenatal testosterone. 2D:4D has been proposed as a predictor of performance and a helpful criterion for the talent identification (TID) process. The Swiss track and field federation (Swiss Athletics) uses a multidimensional TID-tool, but 2D:4D has to date not been taken into account. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine whether the 2D:4D of Swiss youth track and field athletes is related to the personal best performance exhibited during competition. Methods: 180 track and field athletes (75 girls and 105 boys) were recruited during the annual Swiss Athletics talent selection day. The mean age of subjects was 16.6±1.4 years. The personal best performance was taken from the Swiss Athletics database. All performance data were transformed into points and adjusted for age according to Swiss Athletics standards. Second and fourth digit finger length was measured blind to performance data. Measurements were made from photocopies of the ventral surface of the right hand. Measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mm from the midpoint of the finger crease proximal to the palm to the tip of the finger using steel vernier calipers. Results: Mean 2D:4D was 0.95±0.03 for the whole sample, 0.96±0.03 for female and 0.94±0.03 for male athletes. Significant (p<0.05) negative correlations were observed between 2D:4D and performance in the whole sample(r=-0.24) and significant (p<0.05) negative interclass correlations were found in female (r=-0.26) and male (r=-0.25) athletes. Effect sizes (ES) were small for both females and males. Subgroups of female middle-distance runners (r=-0.43) as well as male sprinters (r=-0.61) showed highest ES. Discussion: Our data indicate that 2D:4D is a predictor of performance in track and field for both female and male athletes. This in turn suggests that fetal testosterone exposure has long-term effects on traits associated with physical performance in track and field. However it should be kept in mind that performance is closely related to maturity. Given that 2D:4D is fixed before birth and remains constant during life, 2D:4D might be used as a selection criterion in the TID process of female middle-distance runners and male sprinters.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.