LGBT group drop Navratilova after ‘transphobic comments’

I think both sides have a point.

Yes it would be unfair for formerly male tennis players to compete in female competitions as they generally fitter, I'm not too caught up with the science so that is for governing bodies to decide.

However her comments about men taking hormones and then switching back when they have earned their money does perpetuate a dangerous myth that those transitioning can be doing it for personal gain. That is the transphobic part.

I don't think the potential exploitability of allowing people to take androgens should be disregarded. There are people out there who may abuse the system in pursuit of titles and prize money. Don't write it off.

Professional sporting bodies should take a leaf out of Powerlifting USA's book and simply prohibit anyone taking androgens or competing against the opposite biological sex.

I would imagine that in order to enter into a female tournament you would have to be declared legally female by your residing country. I know in the UK that process is fairly rigorous. So in order to exploit the system they would first have to dupe the legal process which I can't imagine is easy. Only then would they be able to start exploiting the sport they have chosen.

Are people capable of doing all that? Possibly. Is it likely? No.

its really not that hard to do actually - you need to live for 2 years as your desired gender, demonstraite that you will continue to live as that gender, and have a diagnosis for gender dysphoria,

Gaining a diagnosis is easy.. declaring that you will stay in that gender for the rest of your life requires no actual proof - the only hard thing for someone wanting to fake it, would be to live as the other gender for 2 years.

I think this situation though, is more that people are forseeing potential problems, rather than identifying ones that exist now. As it stands, the number of transgender atheletes competing against women in high-level sports is so low that its a non-issue... BUT it could be an issue. And that's why atheletes and sports bodies are acting on it now. They are seeing that the attitudes are changing, and that for the first time, trans-althletes are boarding on acceptable to the public. They are still not quite there yet, but we are approaching the point where they will be accepted if the current trends maintain.

Once acceptance is there from the public, the possibility for abusing the situation opens up. All it then takes is one struggling male college tennis player, failing to gain recognition in the mens game.. to think:

"All I have to do is lie to a few doctors, wear some different clothes, and go through a few legal processes.. and I can be a millionaire. I can be internationally famous, be considered a modern icon of diversity.. dominate a major international sport.. and I don't even have to have any surgery, so I can reverse it all later after my playing days are over"

Most men would never do it.. but it doesn't need most men. All you would need is 1. a single slightly un-hinged male tennis player, who wants glory/money/power over everything else.. and click - the entire female tennis scene is ruined.

- It hasn't happened yet, because the public acceptance isn't there.. but it will eventually, and that's why female-sports bodies are now acting to trying and safeguard their athletes before it does.

There are lots of things that could be an issue but it needs to be approached sensibly. Banning all trans-athletes from their desired sport is not a sensible approach it is a knee jerk reaction to a problem that doesn't even exist.

The Olympic committee seem to have set a pretty good advice on how it allows male to female athletes to compete. Based on science and evidence not feelings and outrage.

I would imagine that in order to enter into a female tournament you would have to be declared legally female by your residing country. I know in the UK that process is fairly rigorous. So in order to exploit the system they would first have to dupe the legal process which I can't imagine is easy. Only then would they be able to start exploiting the sport they have chosen.

Are people capable of doing all that? Possibly. Is it likely? No.

I think both sides have a point.

Yes it would be unfair for formerly male tennis players to compete in female competitions as they generally fitter, I'm not too caught up with the science so that is for governing bodies to decide.

However her comments about men taking hormones and then switching back when they have earned their money does perpetuate a dangerous myth that those transitioning can be doing it for personal gain. That is the transphobic part.

It’s not transphobic though, there is nothing to stop that from happening. What you have to consider is there are millions of pounds at stake; if you’re a male tennis player who’s barely in the top 100 why not go and play against women and challenge for grand slams? Why not become a UFC champion or an Olympic gold medalist? It would perhaps be transphobic if she had targeted her comments at a particular individual but saying the possibility of exploitation exists is not transphobic at all

It's a massive overreaction, though. Nothing like this has ever happened and most trans individuals just want to live normal lives. Saying they should be entirely excluded from sport just because they're trans, just in case one of them decides to turn pro to game the system is pretty ridiculous.

But this is very new, it’s not been long since trans people started competing in sport against the gender that they identify as rather than their biological sex. To suggest that because it hasn’t happened yet it’s an overreaction to point out that it could be exploited is wrong.

Biological men competing against biological women gives them an unfair advantage. Trans people shouldn’t be excluded from sport, they should have to compete against men.

Do you think you know what you mean by "biological" men or women?

Again, I don't see why someone should be excluded from playing sports competitively for being trans when there are far worse concerns when it comes to cheating that we do little to nothing about. It just strikes me as hypocritical and biased.

its really not that hard to do actually - you need to live for 2 years as your desired gender, demonstraite that you will continue to live as that gender, and have a diagnosis for gender dysphoria,

Gaining a diagnosis is easy.. declaring that you will stay in that gender for the rest of your life requires no actual proof - the only hard thing for someone wanting to fake it, would be to live as the other gender for 2 years.

I think this situation though, is more that people are forseeing potential problems, rather than identifying ones that exist now. As it stands, the number of transgender atheletes competing against women in high-level sports is so low that its a non-issue... BUT it could be an issue. And that's why atheletes and sports bodies are acting on it now. They are seeing that the attitudes are changing, and that for the first time, trans-althletes are boarding on acceptable to the public. They are still not quite there yet, but we are approaching the point where they will be accepted if the current trends maintain.

Once acceptance is there from the public, the possibility for abusing the situation opens up. All it then takes is one struggling male college tennis player, failing to gain recognition in the mens game.. to think:

"All I have to do is lie to a few doctors, wear some different clothes, and go through a few legal processes.. and I can be a millionaire. I can be internationally famous, be considered a modern icon of diversity.. dominate a major international sport.. and I don't even have to have any surgery, so I can reverse it all later after my playing days are over"

Most men would never do it.. but it doesn't need most men. All you would need is 1. a single slightly un-hinged male tennis player, who wants glory/money/power over everything else.. and click - the entire female tennis scene is ruined.

- It hasn't happened yet, because the public acceptance isn't there.. but it will eventually, and that's why female-sports bodies are now acting to trying and safeguard their athletes before it does.

The problem with your point there is that just because a formerly male tennis player decided to transition so they'd find it easier competing doesn't mean that they'll win against all the women they play, if they were good enough to ruin the female tennis scene then they'll likely be successful in the male category as well.

Do you think you know what you mean by "biological" men or women?

Again, I don't see why someone should be excluded from playing sports competitively for being trans when there are far worse concerns when it comes to cheating that we do little to nothing about. It just strikes me as hypocritical and biased.