Martina Navratilova continues her fight against exclusion of females from women’s category by including men

Martina Navratilova claimed that including 'biological males' in female sports is not inclusion but exclusion of female athletes.

Martina Navratilova continues her fight against exclusion of females from women’s category by including men

Martina Navratilova (via Imago)

Martina Navratilova is not yet over what transpired at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As alleged biological male boxers – Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting — not only competed in women’s events but won the gold medals in their respective categories, Navratilova was furious. The 67-year-old has once again reiterated her stance albeit involving a different athlete this time.

As Italian Paralympian Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympics, there is an uproar among the netizens about allowing trans athletes in the women’s category. While Paterillo calls her participation an “important symbol of inclusion”, Navratilova has claimed it was instead an exclusion.

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Including males in the women’s category means excluding females. It’s that simple.
Martina Navratilova posted on X

While Martina Navratilova disagrees, Petrillo will run in the T12 200m and 400m events. The 50-year-old sprinter who competes in the women’s T12 classification for athletes with visual impairments transitioned in 2019.

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How is Valentina Petrillo able to compete in women’s category despite World Athletics barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s events?

Valentina Petrillo is not competing at a global event as a transgender athlete in the women’s category for the first time. She has taken part in the World Para Athletics Championships, where she won bronze medals. However, she is set to compete at the Paralympics for the first time.

Valentina-Petrillo
Valentina Petrillo (Image via BBC)

World Athletics has banned transgender women from competing in the female category at international events. However, Petrillo can compete in the women’s category in the Paralympics because there is no unified position in sport towards the inclusion of transgender athletes.

The International Paralympic Committee allows international sports governing bodies to set their own policies. Under World Para Athletics’ rules, a person who is legally recognized as a woman is eligible to compete in the category their impairment qualifies them for.

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