Martina Navratilova accuses transgender cyclist Eva Lin of 'cheating' after transitioning and winning women's races

Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has once again stirred the pot in the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in women's sports. The former San Jose State University cyclist Henry Lin, now Eva Lin, has been at the center of this controversy after Navratilova accused Lin of cheating by transitioning from male to female and subsequently achieving significant success in women's cycling.

The controversy surrounding transgender athletes in sports has been a hot topic for years. Navratilova, a long-time advocate for women's sports, has consistently argued that male and female bodies have inherent physical differences that give transgender women an unfair advantage.

This issue gained traction after an X (formerly Twitter) user highlighted Lin's transformation in competitive performance. Henry Lin reportedly struggled to achieve notable results when competing in the male cycling category.

However, after transitioning to the female category under the name Eva Lin, her fortunes in the sport drastically changed. According to the post, Lin began winning tournaments after moving to categories 3 and 4 in USA Cycling—a level that does not require hormone monitoring for transgender athletes.

Navratilova reshared the user’s detailed comparison of Lin’s results before and after the transition. She added her sharp critique, stating:

"Shows how the move from Male to Female category is not lateral but up. Way up. And it stinks. This is cheating, pure and simple."

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Martina Navratilova celebrates President Joe Biden's reversal of the Title IX amendment on transgender athletes

Martina Navratilova during the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards press conference (Image source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova welcomed outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw the proposed Title IX amendment regarding transgender participation in women’s sports.

The proposed rule aimed to prevent bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports by extending Title IX protections—originally designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs—to include gender identity.

Introduced in April 2023, the amendment sought to block states from excluding transgender athletes from women’s competitions. Less than 30 days remaining before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Department of Education announced its withdrawal due to public concerns and ongoing legal challenges.

Navratilova, a prominent critic of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, shared her approval on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

"Well hallelujah!!!!!"

In other news, Martina Navratilova recently reacted to Sebastian Coe’s commitment to bringing significant changes to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if he secures the presidency in March 2025. Coe’s agenda emphasizes innovation, safeguarding women’s sports, and fostering greater dialogue and discussion.