Recently, Italian Paralympian Valentina Petrillo set a new national record in the women’s 200m race.
However, this achievement resonated in Italy not only because of his age, but also because, until four years ago, his name was Fabrizio Petrillo, the 11-time Italian champion. Valentina, who has identified as a woman since 2019, ran 200 meters in 26.27 seconds and swept the competition by reaching the finish line alone, beating her own record by almost a second.
At the age of 14, he was diagnosed with visual impairment due to Stargardt’s disease, for which he was classified as a para-athlete in the T12 class.
Since her transition, the 49-year-old has been the target of many critics who believe it is unfair for her to compete with women because she has an advantage over the competition due to her excess testosterone.
Now the record in the M50 category is held by a man. In the female F50, too. No woman.
– Irene Aguilar, specialist in Sports Law, via Twitter
In addition, the rivals of the trans runner have expressed their disagreement, alluding to biological injustice, since they assure that her “much more athletic” body offers her certain advantages. The debate recently raged after the Paralympian broke her own record from last year.
Valentina Petrillo is a transgender athlete who won, competing in the 200m women’s indoor event in Italy.
They continue to destroy sports in the face of obvious physical superiority, the disastrous thing is how little they care as long as they defend inclusion. pic.twitter.com/Afd16eG8v3— Juan Luis…🐺🤍🖤 (@oakyy33) March 22, 2023
The runner of Neapolitan origin had a marriage from which her seven-year-old son was born. In 2018, she began the transition. A year later, she changed her identity and began to participate in the women’s competition.
What does the regulation say?
The participation of transgender people in sports has been discussed at length. In 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) noted that international sports federations may set rules on the basis of which it would be possible for a transgender woman to participate in women’s competitions.
Current rules from the International Association of Athletics Federations say that a trans woman whose blood testosterone level does not exceed five nanomoles per liter can participate with women. The value must remain below five in 12 months.
Precisely, the life of Valentina Petrillo will be told in the documentary 5 nanomoles, the Olympic dream of a trans woman, which will debut at the Perugia Journalism Festival, Italy, in April.
Source: Okchicas
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