Transgender sprinter Valentina Petrillo sparked controversy this week by qualifying for the women’s semi-finals at the Paris Paralympics, despite previously competing in men’s categories. The 51-year-old Italian athlete, who is visually impaired, secured her place in the T12 400m event on Monday, but missed out on a spot in Tuesday’s finale after finishing third. Petrillo, who transitioned in 2019 at the age of 46, had previously won 11 national titles in men’s T12 competitions between 2015 and 2018. Her inclusion in women’s events has reignited debates about fairness in sport, with prominent …
