Martina Navratilova backs Trump's ban on transgender athletes in women's sports, calls for cheek swab to prove sex

Martina Navratilova , the celebrated nine-time Wimbledon champion and one of the first openly lesbian athletes in professional sports has publicly expressed support for Donald Trump 's executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. Despite her strong political disagreements with Trump, the 68-year-old tennis icon believes the policy is “obviously not fair,” referring to transgender women competing against biological females .

"I disagree with Trump on everything but this issue," Navratilova told The Daily T, acknowledging the backlash she has faced for her position. "For that, I am called a Nazi, homophobe, bigot," she added, emphasizing the personal attacks she's endured.

🎙️ @Martina - Trump is right, women’s sport should be for women only.

Martina Navratilova is one of the world’s greatest ever tennis players. She was also one of the first openly lesbian professional athletes to come out publicly in the U.S. and has been an advocate for lesbian… pic.twitter.com/OhSwFZkRNn

— The Daily T (@DailyTPodcast) April 22, 2025

Navratilova, who has long been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes in women’s sports, called these athletes "failed male athletes" and voiced concerns over fairness. In February, Trump signed an executive order titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,' which has far-reaching implications, including potential changes in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The order mandates that the Department of Homeland Security reject visa applications from men attempting to enter the U.S. while identifying as women athletes.

UK Supreme Court Ruling Adds Fuel to the Debate

The ongoing debate was further ignited by a landmark ruling from the UK Supreme Court. Last week, the court upheld that the definition of "woman" is based on biological sex, creating a clear legal distinction between men and women in relation to sports and other gender-segregated spaces. This judgment, which defined sex as binary , either a man or a woman, has caused a stir, with both support and protests erupting across the UK.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, explained that the ruling would prevent transgender women with a gender recognition certificate from competing in women’s sports if deemed "proportionate." This aligns with the stance taken by many, including Navratilova, who insists that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines fairness.

A Call for Clear Policies in Tennis
In her critique of tennis organizations, Navratilova expressed frustration with the inconsistent policies on transgender athletes. She highlighted Wimbledon, the Lawn Tennis Association, and other governing bodies in tennis for not adopting a clear, consistent approach. "Just say female only, and you take a simple cheek swab test to prove you’re female and you’re done for the rest of your life," she suggested.

Her calls for clearer rules are echoed by other figures within the sport, including Sue Barker, former tennis champion and BBC Wimbledon presenter. Barker has publicly supported Navratilova's position, stating, "I just think you take away the young girls' dreams, so I am definitely with Navratilova."

Navratilova’s Continued Support for the Ban
Despite facing backlash from the LGBTQ+ community, Navratilova remains firm in her belief that transgender women should not compete against biological females in sports. She views Trump’s ban as a necessary step toward fairness in competition. "There should be no males in women’s sports, period, pun kind of intended," she said, reinforcing her stance on the issue.