Former World No. 1 Martina Navratilova slammed ‘male player’ Blaire Fleming for participating in the elite women’s Division I volleyball tournament. Navratilova’s stance against biological men competing in women’s sports is not new. She has, on several occasions, made headlines for taking a dig at sports organizations that turn a blind eye to it in women’s sports.
Fleming is currently part of the San Jose University women’s volleyball team. In a game between San Jose and Iowa Hawkeyes in the Mountain West Conference, Fleming’s performance brought her under the spotlight.
According to a report by Reduxx, Blaire Fleming was actually a man named Brayden who identifies as a female. Before transferring to San Jose, Fleming played on the women’s volleyball team at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina.
The report stated that Fleming left California just before Save Women’s Sports was signed into law, which would have prevented Fleming from continuing to play in the women’s team. A user on X pointed out how Fleming used her power and height to help the San Jose volleyball team beat the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Look at the power and height of this Male Player Blaire Fleming - from today's Iowa Hawkeyes vs. San Jose State women's volleyball game. Is it fair for these women who have worked so hard to be dominated by a mediocre male player? @NCAAVolleyball.A user on X opined
Martina Navratilova reacted to the post by stating that allowing trans-athletes to participate in women’s sports is dangerous and not sustainable.
Not just unfair but dangerous and not sustainable. At this rate so many women athletes will be erased.Martina Navratilova wrote
Not just unfair but dangerous and not sustainable. At this rate so many women athletes will be erased https://t.co/YolEAC1sVq
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 6, 2024
During the Paris Olympics, Navratilova remained vocal against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, two boxers who were rumored to be men, to compete in women’s events.
Martina Navratilova doesn’t believe Novak Djokovic’s recent poor form will harm his reputation
Away from that, Martina Navratilova has opined that Novak Djokovic competing on the ATP tour while struggling with form will not harm the Serbian’s reputation. Djokovic’s form has been down this season. He is yet to win a title on the tour this year, though he did win the elusive gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
At the US Open, Djokovic crashed out in the third round after losing to Alexei Popyrin in four sets. While the 37-year-old’s poor form has become the topic of debate, Navratilova believes that nothing will tarnish his reputation in the sport.
It depends how much the fire is still burning. If it’s still burning, I’m never going to say ‘you shouldn’t play’, because he’s never going to tarnish his legacy – it’s ridiculously good.Martina Navratilova said during the Q&A session for Sky Sports
Djokovic crashing out of the US Open ended his bid for a Grand Slam title this year. While he won three Majors last year, this season will mark the first time since 2017 that the Serbian will end the season without a Grand Slam title.