“This really needs to end,” WTA legend Martina Navratilova comes down hard on transgender participation in women’s sports as Hailey Davidson scripts history in the golf world

Martina Navratilova has openly called out the rule that allows trans athletes in women's sports.

“This really needs to end,” WTA legend Martina Navratilova comes down hard on transgender participation in women’s sports as Hailey Davidson scripts history in the golf world

Martina Navratilova, Hailey Davidson (Images via Fox News, NY Post)

American tennis legend Martina Navratilova has once again criticized the rule that allows transgender athletes to take part in women’s sports.

Hailey Davidson, a 30-year-old transgender golfer who won the NXXT Women’s Classic and managed to secure her spot on a prestigious Tour specifically designed to provide ‘growth opportunities’ for female players, expressed her dissent.

YouTube video

The former World No. 1 said that this needs to stop as the earliest. Navratilova openly called out Davidson, saying that male bodies, irrespective of their identity, should not be allowed in women’s sports. 

FS Video
This really needs to end sooner rather than later. Male bodies, however they might identify, do not belong in women’s sports!
Martina Navratilova posted on X.

Notably, with this win, Hailey Davidson has inched closer to the goal of becoming the first transgender woman to earn a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour card. If she gets it, a woman athlete will be deprived of that opportunity.

Martina Navratilova completely against trans athletes in women’s sports

This is not the first time Martina Navratilova has raised objections against the rule that allows tans athletes to take part in women’s sports.

Martina Navratilova has taken her firm stance regarding the participation of trans-men in the women's division of any sports.
Martina Navratilova (image via: people)

The 67-year-old tennis legend has openly called out this rule, saying it is cheating. Navratilova has said that it is unfair to women athletes.

In a recent interaction with Intelligence, the former tennis pro openly expressed her opinions on the matter. She revealed why the concept is flawed. The 67-year-old explained that even if trans athletes take testosterone blockers, the physical advantages are numerous, and it does not create a level playing field.

This is not against trans athletes. This is against male bodies competing as women if they identify as women. Many sports don’t even have any mitigation, any allowance for lowering the testosterone level, et cetera. But what has been proven, even when you do take those testosterone blockers or hormone therapy, even after 15 years, male bodies still retain physical advantage over women athletes.
Martina Navratilova explained.

The former tennis ace claims that allowing trans athletes in women’s sports will create an imbalance, which is not good. The playing field should be level, and hence male bodies identifying as women must compete in the male category while female bodies identifying as men can compete in women’s sports. 

It is worth mentioning that Martina Navratilova was herself gay and won 18 Grand Slam titles in her career. There are quite a few gay tennis players competing on the tour without any objection from anyone.

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