Martina Navratilova calls out US Senator Dick Durbin for dismissing impact of trans athletes in NCAA at the expense of making "women feel unsafe"

Martina Navratilova has publicly challenged Dick Durbin, the US Senator from Illinois, over his stance on the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports. Navratilova, a staunch advocate for maintaining female-only spaces in sports, raised concerns about the impact of trans inclusion on women athletes.

On December 17, Senator Dick Durbin chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the SAFE Bet Act and the federal oversight of sports gambling. However, the discussion shifted to the topic of trans athletes in women's sports, during which Durbin learned that there were currently less than 10 transgender athletes among the 510,000 players in the NCAA.

The Illinois senator later took to social media and contended that, with fewer than 10 transgender NCAA athletes in the United States, the priority should be on finding meaningful ways to improve women's sports instead of concerns over their inclusion.

"510,000 NCAA athletes. Ten or fewer transgender NCAA athletes nationwide. Let’s focus on ways to actually improve women’s sports," Durbin posted on X.

However, Martina Navratilova took issue with Dick Durbin's argument. The 18-time Grand Slam champion asserted that accommodating a small number of transgender athletes shouldn't come at the expense of making thousands of women "uncomfortable and unsafe" in their own sporting spaces.

"Senator- each trans identified male athlete impacts hundreds of female athletes. Why make thousands of women feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and compete in an unfair fight in order to accommodate fewer than 10 TIMS?" Navratilova questioned.

Navratilova further suggested that if Sen. Durbin truly wanted to advance women's sports, he should push for NCAA schools to provide equal resources and support to women's programs, which were significantly underfunded compared to men's sports.

"And if you really want to help women’s sports, make sure NCAA schools give equal money and support to women’s sports as they give men’s sports. Because it’s not even close. Thank you," Martina Navratilova commented further.

Martina Navratilova: "Identity does not apply to sports... Male bodies are different from female bodies"

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova has consistently maintained that gender identity shouldn't dictate eligibility in sports. Speaking on 'The Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt' podcast, the former World No. 1 reaffirmed her belief in the fundamental physical differences between male and female bodies.

"Identity is one thing, but identity does not apply to sports. Sex category applies to sports. Male bodies are different from female bodies," Navratilova said.

Navratilova also argued for strict boundaries to ensure women's sports remained female-only spaces.

"When it comes to female sex-based spaces, which includes sports, then I think we need to put a line there and say 'We just really need this space to be female.' And that's the end," she added.

Martina Navratilova recently expressed her approval for the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association)'s decision to ban transgender women from competing in female-only categories in tennis tournaments in the UK. She also urged the USTA (United States Tennis Association) to adopt a similar policy.