Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has expressed strong criticism towards Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo, who is set to become the first transgender woman to compete in the Paralympics next week. Navratilova, known for her advocacy of women's rights in sports, took to social media to voice her concerns about Petrillo's participation in the games.

In a post on social media, Navratilova referred to Petrillo as a "pathetic cheater" for competing in the women's 200 and 400-meter races in the T12 classification, designed for visually impaired athletes. She also expressed her disappointment at what she called Petrillo "stealing women's trophies."

Petrillo, a 50-year-old athlete, was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition, during her teenage years. She had previously competed in the men's T12 category, winning 11 national titles between 2015 and 2018, before deciding to transition.

Speaking about her journey, Petrillo explained that she began transitioning in 2019 and realized her dream of competing in the female category in 2020. She emphasized her belief that everyone deserves a second chance and the right to pursue their passions.

The controversy surrounding Petrillo's participation lies in the differing policies between World Athletics and its para counterpart, World Para Athletics. While World Athletics bans transgender athletes from competing in women's events if they transitioned after puberty, World Para Athletics allows transgender women to compete after meeting certain criteria.

According to World Para Athletics, transgender athletes need to declare their gender identity for sporting purposes as female and provide evidence that their testosterone levels have been below 10 nanomoles per liter of blood for at least 12 months before their first competition. This policy has paved the way for Petrillo to become the first trans woman to participate in the Paralympics.

However, some competitors have raised concerns about the fairness of Petrillo competing in women's events. Petrillo herself admitted that if she were a biological woman, she would also have doubts about competing against her. Nevertheless, she maintained that being born male does not guarantee superior athletic performance compared to women.

Petrillo, who secured bronze medals in the 200 and 400-meter races at last year's World Para Athletics Championships, will now have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the finals of the 400 and 200-meter sprints at the Paralympics. The races are scheduled to take place on September 3 and 7, respectively.

As Petrillo prepares to make history as the first transgender woman to compete in the Paralympics, the debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports continues to be a contentious issue. The outcome of her participation in the games may have broader implications for future policies related to transgender inclusion in competitive sports.