Emails show Jeffrey Epstein corresponded with scientist about genetic research on elite Jamaican sprinters

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein corresponded with evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers about genetic research on elite Jamaican sprinters, according to emails released by the United States Department of Justice over the weekend.

The emails contain no indication that Trivers was involved in criminal activities.

The emails, however, show Epstein provided financial support to Trivers over several years, though it remains unclear whether he funded the sprinter research specifically.

Trivers, nonetheless, kept Epstein informed of his progress on the project.

In 2014, Trivers wrote he would be "measuring at least 73 elite sprinters in Kingston, including Shelley Ann Fraser [Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]," aiming to create "the world's first elite human sample" for genetic analysis.

He later wrote that he had contacted half the world's elite sprinters, including Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Elaine Thompson.

Trivers, whose 1971 theory of reciprocal altruism helped establish evolutionary psychology, did not immediately respond to two separate Gleaner email requests for comment - one sent in November 2025 when the initial batch of Epstein files was released, and another sent on Monday.

Trivers made comments that seemed to defend Epstein's reputation in a 2015 Reuters report.

By March 2019, their relationship had ebbed but never ended.

"After seven years of continuous support, you seemed to flip," Trivers wrote, requesting a phone call.

Epstein responded later, suggesting focusing instead on "transgender biology" rather than honour killings or sprinter studies, which he called having "little public interest".

Months later, Epstein was found dead in jail in August 2019.

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