Martina Navratilova calls out male athletes for not speaking up against inclusion of transgender players in women's sports

Tennis great Martina Navratilova has questioned why athletes, especially male athletes, are not speaking up against allowing transgender athletes in women's sports. The development comes days after Navratilova reacted in disbelief when Olympic Gold Medallist Imane Khelif, who was allegedly born with male hormones, was named the third-best female athlete of 2024 by AP.

Navratilova was one of the most prominent names who was disappointed when Algeria's Imane Khelif, 25, was allowed to compete at the Olympics despite questions about her gender and eligibility. Khelif's participation in the Games came under international scrutiny after Italy's Angela Carini broke down into tears after losing her bout against the Algerian.

"Deplorable," Navratilova wrote at the time. "This will not end well for the people in power who allowed this to happen."

Navratilova took to social media several times during the course of the Olympics to express her dissatisfaction over Khalif's participation. She again waded into the controversy on December 26, responding to news of Khelif being named the third-best female athlete by AP with a "Wtaf."

Jarred Fishman, an attorney, reacted to Navratilova's post and asked the legend why women put up with transgender athletes in female sports.

"Why do millions of REAL WOMEN tolerate this?! I thought the entire point of "feminism" was standing up for women's rights? Now millions of women are literally on the side of men taking away jobs from other women!," Fishman wrote.

Martina Navratilova countered Fishman, arguing that women did not make the rules that enabled Khelif to win the Gold Medal.

"Women did not make the rules that the IOC used to allow Imane to box even though Imane twice failed a sex test," she said. "Stop blaming women for this travesty."

"Men make the rules," the tennis legend asserted in a follow-up post. Another commenter complained about why men were not more outspoken against the alleged injustice. Agreeing with the poster, Navratilova claimed that male athletes remain mum on the issue as they are aware that biological men have an advantage over women.

"Exactly. Especially male athletes- they know exactly how much of an advantage they have over women."

Martina Navratilova argued that biological men have unfair advantage over women in sport

Martina Navratilova strongly opposes allowing transgenders in women's sports - Source: Getty

Martina Navratilova, the most decorated athlete in tennis with 59 Grand Slams to her name, has repeatedly condemned the rules allowing made-to-female transitioned athletes to compete in women's sporting disciplines.

Navratilova has been labeled a "trans-exclusionary radical feminist" (or TERF) by her critics. She responded to the criticism recently, in an apparent embrace of the label:

"TERFs like me speak for the women who can’t speak for themselves- and those women and girls do NOT want male bodies in their spaces."

Navratilova has also extended her support to Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who often vocalized her opposition to allowing transgenders in spaces traditionally reserved for women.