The debate surrounding female athlete protection took a dramatic turn on March 25th, as World Athletics announced controversial new measures. Among the most striking is the introduction of cheek swabs to definitively determine an athlete’s biological sex. This decision, championed by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe as a move to safeguard the female category, has sparked significant discussion, particularly in light of past pressure from figures like former US President Donald Trump. Adding her voice to the conversation is tennis legend Martina Navratilova, known for her outspoken views on gender issues in sports.

Coe said on Tuesday: “It’s important to do it because it maintains everything that we’ve been talking about, and particularly recently, about not just talking about the integrity of female women’s sport, but actually guaranteeing it. We feel this is a really important way of providing confidence and maintaining that absolute focus on the integrity of competition.” It didn’t take long for famous British author JK Rowling to take notice of this.!

Rowling responded to a tweet by the Daily Mail that noted, “Transgender athletes stamped out of sport as new bombshell rules force women to prove their birth gene,” explaining, “Or, to put it another way: ‘a cheek swab will be introduced to ensure fair sport for women and girls. Trans-identified men remain free to play sport in the male category.’” What does Navratilova have to say to this?

The nine-time Wimbledon champion responded, “This is exactly right. Pretty straightforward,” backing up Rowling’s stand on the matter. She also responded to a similar tweet with a supportive, “👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼”. 

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE, a vocal advocate for protecting women’s sports, expressed her strong support for World Athletics’ new measures. Reacting to the announcement, she celebrated the move and posted the following on her social media: “No more cheating in track and fields by males in a category for females. I’d very much like to see medals re issued for events ruined and women unfairly robbed!”

Well, as for Navratilova, she is no stranger to stirring up a storm, and her latest response to a heated debate on trans women in sports is a perfect example.

Martina Navratilova fires back at trans-advocate

On March 11, she shot back at a user who claimed “Trans women are also biological women,” with an honest, “Another person who clearly failed Biology 101.” This isn’t the first time Navratilova has ignited a firestorm with her views on trans athletes.

In 2019, tennis legend Martina Navratilova faced criticism for her stance that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports constitutes “cheating.” This stance led to her removal from Athlete Ally’s advisory board, with the organization countering, “First of all, trans women are women, period. They did not decide their gender identity any more than someone decides to be gay, or to have blue eyes.” Despite her long history as an LGBT rights advocate, her views on this issue have sharply diverged from those of her allies.

In response to the criticism, Navratilova acknowledged her lack of sensitivity and promised to educate herself. She participated in a BBC documentary, exploring the complexities of trans athletes in sports and expressing regret for hurting people with her earlier comments. She has stated, “I promised to keep quiet on the subject until I had properly researched it… well, I’ve now done that and, if anything, my views have strengthened.”

As the discussion continues to simmer, Navratilova’s voice remains a central part of the conversation, keeping the topic firmly in the spotlight.