Richard Pagliaro | @tennis_now | Thursday, June 19, 2025
Image source: Avant-garde
Martina Navratilova It is wrong to say that the WTA allows trans women to play female tennis.
Hall of Fame member Navratilova said allowing trans women to compete with biological women not only created an unfair playing field, but also took away job opportunities for biological women because “there is now a man who has taken her place.”
In a wide range of new interviews Ashitha Nagesh of BBCformer world number one reiterates her long-standing position that the WTA allows trans women to play on the tour is wrong.
“There should be no exclusion, and there should be no bullying.” Navratilova told the BBC. “But male bodies need to participate in male sports. They can still compete. There is no ban on trans people in sports.
“They just have to go to the appropriate category in the male category. It’s simple.”
The 18th Grand Slam singles champion shows that women are considered second-class citizens in their own sport. “It’s frustrating and wrong to always put trans rights above women’s rights,” Navratilova said.
Naveratilova told the BBC: “By adding male bodies to the women’s championship, there are now people who are not playing – a woman is not playing because now the male has taken her place.”
Navratilova has been one of the most outspoken critics of the WTA’s trans women’s tennis policy for years, for era About the topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG568CEUUIZE
This is WTA’s rule on trans women’s tour WTA Rule Manual:
“In the qualifications of a biological male who belongs to a female or nonbinary gender identity within Article 2.1.2, eligible for participation in the WTA Championship, a biological male with a female or nonbinary gender identity must show satisfaction with a WTA physician to meet the WTA satisfaction, they must meet the following requirements (all of which can meet their qualities (eligible and qualities), and meet the qualities, and meet the qualities, and meet the qualities, and meet the qualities, and meet the qualities, and meet the qualities, and meet the signature, and meet the WTA Championship. WTA, whose gender identity is female or nonbinary, and they must maintain the female or nonbinary gender identity if they wish to retain their qualifications to participate in the WTA Championship.
“Before they compete in the first WTA Championship, the blood testosterone concentration must be constantly below 2.5 nmol/l for the past twenty-four (24) months. The blood testosterone concentration must be kept below 2.5 nmol/l after 2.5 nmol/l (i.e., whether in the competition or without competition) to surpass the Eligaine Eligable for such a long time.
At a Wimbledon press conference last July, a reporter asked: “Martina, do you have any objection to your comments on women’s tennis and transsexual players?”
Navratilova replied: “Where have you been?
“Bounce? Where have you been? I’ve been abandoned by many groups in the LGBT community,” Navratilova replied. “But, you know, I’ve been saying it for a long time. I’m not going to change that.
“Yes, it’s rough. But I know I’m on the right side of history. I’m in most people’s perception of women’s gender-based spaces, especially sports. They need to keep women.”
Navratilova is the owner of 59 Grand Slam titles in all disciplines, and some critics call it a human rights issue.
Left-handed has opened up digital battles with football stars Megan Rapinoe Go to the Harry Potter Star Daniel Ratcliffe Transgender athletes participate in women’s sports.
In an interview with Time magazine Last year, Rapinoe suggested that Navratilova is not only a weapon for women’s sports, she hinted at critical comments from comedian Navratilova Dave Chappelle And former ESPN stars Sage Steele Leads to violence against trans people.
“This is especially frustrating when the women’s movement is weaponized.” Rapinoe told Times. “Oh, now do we care about fairness? Now do we care about women’s sports? This is a total of b*llsh*t. Show me all the trans people who are evilly exploiting the sports world. This is not happening…
“Dave Chappelle joked that directly led to violence, whether verbally or otherwise, against trans people.
Navratilova, speaking in Wimbledon last July, acknowledging that it has become a political issue, but insists that she sees it as a matter of women’s rights.
“But politics is a little crazy about it. When it comes to women’s rights, it becomes very politicized,” Navaratilova said. “We seem to put trans rights outside of women’s rights, especially for men who identify with women.
“Women are asked to be kind and inclusive, but by including trans men in the women’s movement, you do not include women.
Navratilova said the response to her position was “very rough in the LGBT community” but said she also received some positive reactions.
“Anyway, it’s a long story. I won’t go into too much detail. Yes, in the LGBT community, it’s very rough,” Navratilova said. “But at the same time, I went to a female show in Miami a few months ago. I wondered what would happen.
“Everyone couldn’t be better, including Queens, and everyone else there. I feel like the whole community is so loving, but when you hear some of the spokespersons in these groups hear these groups, I’m not in these groups.
In an interview Kara Swisher of Intelligence staff from New York MagazineNaveratilova was asked why her position has changed in trans athletes who participate in women’s sports. Navratilova supports trans tennis players Dr. Renee Richards Participated in WTA tours in her time. The two are good friends, and Richards later coached Navratilova.
Navratilova asserted that she believes trans women will eventually dominate the women’s movement and said her position is to create a level playing field for women rather than excluding and discriminating against trans athletes.
“This is not against trans athletes. Navratilova told Kara Swisher. “Many exercises don’t even have any relief, any allowances to lower testosterone levels, etc.
“But even if you do take those testosterone blockers or hormone treatments, even after 15 years, the male body still retains a physical advantage over the female athlete, which has proven it.
“So we are not against trans athletes. We are at the level of getting female athletes to compete. This means that men should now identify as women and should compete in the male category. And those who identify with men but do not take testosterone competition can compete as women.. ”
