Martina Navratilova rejoices as US President Joe Biden's administration scraps Title IX amendment on transgender participation in women's sports

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressed her delight at outgoing United States President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw the proposed Title IX amendment on transgender participation in women's sports. The rule would have prevented bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports.

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funding. The Joe Biden administration had proposed an amendment in April 2023 to extend these protections to include gender identity, thereby preventing states from banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.

However, with only 30 days remaining until President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, the Department of Education announced the withdrawal of this proposition, citing public feedback and ongoing lawsuits.

Martina Navratilova, a vocal critic of transgender inclusion in women's sports, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her joy. Navratilova has long argued that allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports undermines the integrity of female athletics.

"Well hallelujah!!!!!" Navratilova wrote.

The Joe Biden administration's proposed rule was aimed to ensure that gender identity, rather than biological sex, would determine eligibility for participation in single-sex sports.

This move was intended to protect transgender athletes from discrimination. However, the proposal faced significant opposition, with 23 states enacting legislation to restrict transgender athletes from competing in female sports.

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Martina Navratilova explains her stance against transgender inclusion in women’s sports

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

Martina Navratilova has reiterated her opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, using a recent online debate to clarify her stance further.

Navratilova's comments came in response to US Senator Dick Durbin, who supports transgender inclusion, sharing a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing video where NCAA President Charlie Baker noted that fewer than ten of the NCAA's 510,000 female athletes are transgender.

"510,000 NCAA athletes. Ten or fewer transgender NCAA athletes nationwide. Let’s focus on ways to actually improve women’s sports," Dick Durbin noted in his caption.

As the Senator's comments sparked a discussion on social media, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion weighed in, stating:

"It’s about sex, not race, not religion, not sexuality. But actual biological sex, which doesn’t not evolve."

In other related news, Martina Navratilova recently responded to Sebastian Coe's pledge to radically transform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if elected president in March 2025. Coe's manifesto focuses on innovation, protecting women's sports, and encouraging more debate and discussion.