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Original poster

Valentina Petrillo shouldn't be allowed to compete in the women's race

162 replies

AhBiscuits · 07/09/2024 15:19

Valentina Petrillo only started transitioning 5 years ago and previously competed as a man. How can that be fair? I appreciate that she did not make the final, but she's taken the place of a woman who has worked her arse off, but couldn't surpass Valentina's natural advantage.

Valentina Petrillo shouldn't be allowed to compete in the women's race
Valentina Petrillo shouldn't be allowed to compete in the women's race
OP posts:
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Helleofabore · 07/09/2024 15:43

The science is actually very very clear that male people who have been through any degree of male puberty have an advantage over female people.

The fact that this male runner is so much older than the female runners shows that advantage.

The IOC has chosen to prioritise philosophical and political belief over the science and the human rights for female people to have fair competition. It is actually a violation of human rights for the female half of the world’s population.

Livinginaclock · 07/09/2024 15:43

He is a disgusting cheating man

Ago · 07/09/2024 15:41

No males should be in women’s sports. It’s not fair.

ExtraOnions · 07/09/2024 15:41

… notice they feel very little (no) guilt about thier behaviour - those hormones seem to make little impact on male entitlement.

Namechangeforadhd · 07/09/2024 15:38

YANBU at all.
At population level, males are faster (and stronger, and bigger etc etc) that females.
That starts even before puberty, but at puberty the differences heighten. And they remain in place irrespective of bringing down testosterone levels.
So it can't be a level playing field for females if some (albeit here middle-aged and mediocre) male starts competing against them.
Like Lauren Hubbard, it's a good thing he was too rubbish (and old) to take a medal but he did of course take a place that was meant for a female. So a female athlete - one who has already had to deal with visual impairment - had her place at the Paralympics taken away.
Unfair, cruel and discriminatory.

ObelixtheGaul · 07/09/2024 15:37

I think it's a fair point of concern. This is an issue that needs to be thought about going forwards and I think Olympic organisers aren't sure exactly what to do about it. There was some discussion about this before her race. Tanni Grey-Thompson said athletes preferred not to comment/get involved, when asked what the feeling was amongst the other athletes, and who can blame them, given the abuse they might get?

itsgettingweird · 07/09/2024 15:37

It's not fair that para athletics allow this when AB athletics doesn't.

There should not be a difference.

Para sports classes are to allow for impairments and the effect on performance to create a level playing field.

Being transgender is not a disability.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2024 15:37

Of course YANBU.

SplendidUtterly · 07/09/2024 15:35

No.

Helleofabore · 07/09/2024 15:34

No. It is not fair at all.

And sadly it will continue until the IOC changes their regulations. But at the moment, under this President of the IOC, that won’t happen.

VickyEadieofThigh · 07/09/2024 15:32

The length of "transition" is irrelevant. This is a 51 year old male competing against elite female para athletes much younger (simply because no female para athlete of that age COULD compete).

This is a male who has shoved out female athletes. It's WRONG.

lifeturnsonadime · 07/09/2024 15:30

It’s not fair and we should not be compelled to use preferred pronouns either.