"We got called names" - Martina Navratilova claims vindication, labels Imane Khelif a "male" after falling for AI-generated image of Algerian boxer
Martina Navratilova has reiterated her controversial opinion about Imane Khelif, claiming the Algerian boxer is a biological male. The international debate about the Algerian's gender identity was initially ignited at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Khelif found herself at the center of controversy at the Paris Olympics after news of her failed gender test came to light. Although the IOC (International Olympic Committee) backed the Algerian's participation, there was an outcry over the 25-year-old's eligibility amid the misinformation about her being transgender or intersex.
Notable public figures like Chris Evert, JK Rowling, and Elon Musk, among others, were vocal about their displeasure regarding the boxer's participation. Martina Navratilova, known for her strong opposition to transgender athletes in women's sports, also sharply criticized Imane Khelif's presence at the Olympics, labeling the Algerian's gold medal win as "despicable and dangerous."
Navratilova recently revived the controversy by reacting to a Reduxx article that published French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia's findings. According to Aoudia, a 2023 French-Algerian report allegedly found, via MRI, that Khelif had internal testicles and a "micropenis" instead of a uterus.
In response to the report, Martina Navratilova labeled Imane Khelif a "biological male" and took a dig at the Algerian's lawsuit regarding the cyberbullying she endured during the Paris Olympics, which named Rowling and Musk.
"And here we are- is Imane still suing JK Rowling? Good luck with that lawsuit. Imane might have been raised as a woman but Imane is a biological male and should not have been allowed to box at the Olympics," Navratilova posted on X.
Navratilova also fell for an AI-generated image of Khelif that portrayed her with a male physique. Feeling vindicated in her views, the former World No. 1 denounced the criticism she had faced for referring to the Algerian as a "man."
"What we have been saying for months. And for calling his person a man or at least a male, we got called all kinds of names and most of all the women this male took medals and wins from. Just awful," she wrote further.
Martina Navratilova: "If wanting fair sports for women and protecting sex-based spaces makes me and many others TERFs, then be it"
As Martina Navratilova's controversial comments about Imane Khelif drew backlash, she was labeled a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) for her apparent hostility towards transgender athletes.
However, the 18-time Grand Slam champion emphasized that if her commitment to "protecting sex-based spaces" and ensuring women's sports remained fair made her a TERF, then she welcomed the label.
"Really? If Wanting fair sports for women and protecting sex based spaces makes me and many others TERFs, then be it. It also means many actual trans people are TERF’s. So ok then…," Martina Navratilova posted.
Navratilova has stood firm on her stance against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, consistently arguing that "women’s sports are not a place for failed male athletes."