"Shame on you" - Martina Navratilova lashes out at English media outlet for celebrating controversial boxer Imane Khelif's Paris Olympics gold

Martina Navratilova lashed out at an English media outlet, The Guardian, for celebrating Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's gold medal win at the Paris Olympics 2024. Khelif secured the gold in the 66 kg weight category amid significant controversy.

Recently, The Guardian published an article titled "Girls, ignore the sexist rhetoric. Revel in everything that upsets the haters." The article has an overarching theme of feminism, with a focus on Republican vice president nominee JD Vance's 'childless cat ladies' comment, trad wife influencer Hannah Neeleman, and Khelif's gender row.

The article, penned by Van Badham, drew the attention of tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who has been vocal about her opposition to Khelif's Olympic participation.

"What utter drivel. Shame on you Guardian for publishing this."

On the other hand, the American praised another English media outlet, The Telegraph, for their article about the IOC's presidential hopeful, Sebastian Coe. Notably, the current president, Thomas Bach, has decided to step down after his second term ends in 2025. The aforementioned source claimed that Coe's 'determination to protect female athletes' made him the best candidate to cover the holes left by Bach.

" 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼," Navartilova wrote.

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Martina Navratilova on Imane Khelif winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024: "Despicable. And dangerous"

French Open Tennis Tournament. Roland-Garros 2024. - (Image via Getty)

Martina Navratilova had expressed outrage over Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lang Yu-ting's gold medal victory at Paris Olympics 2024. Yu-ting faced scrutiny due to a previously failed gender eligibility test.

"This is what happens when you let males compete against females. And in boxing in particular- you don’t need any technique, really- because your punch is so much harder than anything coming at you. Despicable. And dangerous," Navratilova said.

The American took a sarcastic dig at IOC as Khelif and Yu-ting won the gold medal in their respective weight categories.

"What a coincidence that both boxers who were not allowed to compete at IBA events now take the Olympic gold at the Olympics under the “watchful” eye of IOC rules- all comers with the right passport are welcome," she said.

Navratilova has been a staunch supporter of keeping trans women out of women's sports, and she regularly voices her opinion on the subject on social media.