Wearing red increases your chance of winning

In yesterday's Nature magazine, scientists from the University of Durham's Evolutionary Anthropology Research Group reported that competitors in the 2004 Athens Olympics who wore red uniforms were more likely to win than opponents wearing other colors.

The magazine summarized the article as follows:



The colour red is a sexually selected sign of male quality in rhesus macaque monkeys, mandrill baboons and several fish and bird species.

And in some cases artificial enhancement of the red display can increase a male's dominance.

Should the colour of sportwear be taken into account to ensure a level playing field?

Wear your steroids.