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The Last Word With Matt Cooper

Should Trans Women Compete In Women's Sport Events?

Former tennis star Martina Navratilova has been in the news recently for suggesting that transgender...
Sarah Stacey
Sarah Stacey

7:13 PM - 4 Mar 2019



The Last Word With Matt Cooper

Should Trans Women Compete In Women's Sport Events?

Sarah Stacey
Sarah Stacey

7:13 PM - 4 Mar 2019

Listen to this episode



Former tennis star Martina Navratilova has been in the news recently for suggesting that transgender women should not be permitted to compete in women's sporting events.

Navratilova apologised for her use of the word "cheating" when discussing the issue, but maintained that the inclusion of trans women in such events would lead to women's sport as we know it ceasing to exist.

Another successful athlete who shares this view is former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies. She joined us on The Last Word to explain why.

Davies says the subject is "very emotive" and that it is not her intention to belittle the experiences of transgender people.

"It's a really difficult journey and no one's trying to belittle that journey in any shape or form. But what we are trying to say is that transgender women who transition from men to women, usually after puberty, have a physical advantage and that will translate to quite a big difference on the track, in the pool, in the velodrome, and that makes it unfair for women in sport."

"We just want to make sure that there's a fair set of rules for everybody, and that includes the transgender community."

Should Trans Women Compete In Women's Sport Events?

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Athletes Sharron Davies Sport Transgender Women

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