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Sue Barker says trans women should not be allowed to compete against biological females in sport - as the Wimbledon and BBC legend backs Martina Navratilova and warns 'young girls' dreams are being taken away'
Wimbledon and BBC legend Sue Barker has backed calls for a ban on self-identified trans women competing against biological females in sport.
The TV presenter has revealed she agrees with fellow former tennis ace Martina Navratilova, saying that 'young girls' dreams' are at stake.
Nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Navratilova has been one of the most vocal opponents of allowing transgender female competitors to take part in women's sports - describing them as 'failed male athletes'.
She has now been backed by Barker, 73, who won the French Open in 1976 and went on to present the BBC's Wimbledon TV coverage for 30 years until 2022.
Her comments come following controversies over transgender female participants such as US swimmer Lia Thomas, Welsh cyclist Emily Bridges and Dutch darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven.
Former tennis champion and BBC Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker has said she agrees with Martina Navratilova on transgender female competitors taking part in women's sport
Martina Navratilova, pictured at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid last month, has criticised transgender female competitors as 'failed male athletes'
Transgender female swimmer Lia Thomas (left) is pictured alongside Riley Gaines after they finished tied for fifth in a 200m freestyle final in Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2022
When asked by the Telegraph whether she agreed with Navratilova's stance on self-ID in sport, Barker said: 'I just think you take away the young girls' dreams, so I am definitely with Navratilova.'
She told MailOnline she would not be commenting further.
Critics of people who were born biologically male competing compete in women's sports also include British former Olympians Daley Thompson and Sharron Davies.
Two-time gold medallist Thompson wrote in the Mail last December he believed it 'sad' that equal rights for transgender people had been 'suppressed' but insisted there should be a new 'open' category instead of allowing them to compete in women's events.
And culture secretary Lucy Frazer has called for a ban on transgender athletes competing against women, writing in the Mail: 'We must get back to giving women a level playing field to compete. We need to give women a sporting chance.'
Navratilova, 66, posted in February this year on X, formerly Twitter: 'I will keep saying this as nauseum until the rules change- women’s sports are not a place for failed male athletes.
'Keep males bodies out of women’s sports- they are free to compete in the men’s category.'
She was responding to news of a transgender student winning girls' high jump state championship in New Hampshire in the US.
Last year she sided with World Athletics for pushing for a policy omitting transgender female athletes from internationally-recognised women's competitions, calling it a 'step in the right direction'.
She wrote in the Times: 'In the wake of World Athletics' announcement, I think the best idea would be to have ''biological female'' and ''biological girls'' categories and then an ''open'' category.'
Sue Barker bowed out as the BBC's main Wimbledon presenter at the 2022 championships
Barker's greatest triumph during her tennis playing career was winning the 1976 French Open
Navratilova has also criticised the US Tennis Association for its Transgender Inclusion Policy which states that trans athletes should be included and not blocked from playing the sport.
The document states: 'It is necessary to ensure, insofar as possible, that transgender athletes are not excluded from the opportunity to participate in sporting competitions.
'The overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition. Restrictions on participation are appropriate to the extent that they are necessary and proportionate to the achievement of this objective.'
Navratilova posted in response: 'Come on @USTA - women's tennis is not for failed male athletes- whatever age.
'This is not right and it is not fair. Would this be allowed at the US Open this month? Just with self ID? I don't think so…'
Earlier this month swimmer Lia Thomas, 25, lost a legal battle which rules her out of potentially competing for the US in this summer's Olympics in Paris.
Thomas had become in 2022 became the first trans-athlete to win the women's NCAA college swimming title - the USA's most prestigious college title.
But World Aquatics later changed the rules so no one who had undergone 'any part of male puberty' from competing in the female category - also creating an 'open' category for which transgender athletes would be eligible.
Martina Navratilova (right) has criticised the US Tennis Association for its stance on the issue
The tennis star posted on X, formerly Twitter, about people she calls 'failed male athletes'
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer (pictured) has said governing bodies had a duty to give female athletes a 'sporting chance' because male-born rivals have an 'indisputable edge'
The sport's governing body introduced their new policy after Thomas beat Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant by 1.75 sec to win NCAA gold.
Thomas - who swam for Pennsylvania's men's team for three seasons before beginning hormone replacement therapy in early 2019 - asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the rule change.
The CAS panel consisting of three judges dismissed Thomas' request for arbitration with World Aquatics.
They said Thomas was 'simply not entitled to engage with eligibility to compete in WA competitions such as the Olympics or world championships' due to no longer being a part of US swimming.
Thomas's legal team called the ruling 'deeply disappointing', adding: 'Blanket bans preventing trans women from competing are discriminatory and deprive us of valuable athletic opportunities that are central to our identities.'
The ruling was welcomed by fellow US swimmer Riley Gaines, who had finished tied for fifth with Thomas in a 200m freestyle final in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2022.
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Gaines called it 'a victory for women and girls everywhere'.
Riley Gaines (right) led the celebrations on social media after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas (left) lost her legal battle to compete in women's events at the Olympic Games
Trans cyclist Emily Bridges has vowed to take British Cycling to court after it barred transgender women from competing in the female category last year
Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven faced a boycott by a rival at last month's Dutch Open
Trans cyclist Emily Bridges, 23, also missed out on taking part in the Paris Olympics after British Cyclist last year barred transgender women from competing in the female category.
She admitted earlier this year that her Paris hopes had 'gone now' but vowed to take British Cycling to court to reverse the ban to help future transgender competitors.
Last month a British female darts star forfeited her chance to win the Denmark Open after refusing to face transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven,
Deta Hedman, 64, who has been a vocal critic of rules allowing transgender women to compete in women's tournaments, pulled out of their quarter-final and called for the sport to ban those athletes born as biological men.