Transwoman athlete Valentina Petrillo made headlines for winning the 400m race at the women’s Para Athletics World Championship. Although the achievement is a proud moment for the athlete, her win has sparked a raging debate in the sports world. Netizens have been divided into two camps, opposing and defending the participation of biologically male athletes in a woman’s event.Petrillo, a visually impaired sprinter, is a performer in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events. The Naples-born runner was 14 when he lost his sight and was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, an inherited single-gene retinal disease. Petrillo was 41, when he got back to athletics, winning 11 national titles in the men's category. In 2019, he decided to change his gender and become a trans-woman. She made her debut as a trans-woman at the Italian Para Athletics Championships in 2020.On Thursday, Valentina Petrillo stunned the athletics world by clinching the third position at the Women’s 400m race. The Italian athlete achieved his feat within a time record of 58.24 seconds. However, his bronze medal win left the internet world divided. Many netizens protested against the practice of letting a biologically male athlete participate in a women’s event. They felt it was unfair to female athlete Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi, who came fourth in the race but could have been in Petrillo’s place.Here’s a look at the debate that got sparked on social media. Many jumped to Twitter to say that the event was unfair to other female athletes:"I’m sorry but this is cheating fair and square."richard huntington - Upriser@adliterateI’m sorry but this is cheating fair and square. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…71147Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…I’m sorry but this is cheating fair and square. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…"Sick beyond belief that anyone can see this as anything other than plain wrong."Told You So@TYS20212Sick beyond belief that anyone can see this as anything other than plane wrong. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…47411150Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Sick beyond belief that anyone can see this as anything other than plane wrong. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…"Call a spade a spade, call a bloke a bloke, call a cheat a cheat."Scott Brownlee@ScottMBrownleeCall a spade a spade, call a bloke a bloke, call a cheat a cheat. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…81Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Call a spade a spade, call a bloke a bloke, call a cheat a cheat. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Some pointed out that the stakeholders of the athletics world should have taken the responsibility for the events."Exactly. It’s been nearly 3 months since @WorldAthletics protected the female category for only those who have not gone through male puberty . How can @ParaAthletics and Italian Athletics think this is still acceptable?"Female runner@FemaleRunnerExactly. It’s been nearly 3 months since @WorldAthletics protected the female category for only those who have not gone through male puberty . How can @ParaAthletics and Italian Athletics think this is still acceptable? twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…17445Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Exactly. It’s been nearly 3 months since @WorldAthletics protected the female category for only those who have not gone through male puberty . How can @ParaAthletics and Italian Athletics think this is still acceptable? twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…"Our gullible sporting leaders have been sold a lie. I don’t reckon they believe it - they are just too gutless to stand up against the religious zealots that push it - meanwhile females pay the price."Ro Edge@rosey_nzOur gullible sporting leaders have been sold a lie. I don’t reckon they believe it - they are just too gutless to stand up against the religious zealots that push it - meanwhile females pay the price. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…307Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Our gullible sporting leaders have been sold a lie. I don’t reckon they believe it - they are just too gutless to stand up against the religious zealots that push it - meanwhile females pay the price. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Someone suggested a solution to the problem:There should now be 3 groups . MEN - WOMAN & TRANS. Trans can compete against their own.Theann@TBattissThere should now be 3groups . MEN - WOMAN & TRANS.Trans can compete against their own. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…47361147Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…There should now be 3groups . MEN - WOMAN & TRANS.Trans can compete against their own. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…However, there were some users that came in support of the Italian athlete:"Women just need to TRAIN HARDER and stop being such bad losers! Sometimes, it takes a real elderly sportswoman to show them young ladies how it's done. Even the visually impaired ones, like in this instance."Eldur - The Icelandic Gay Guy@justgayiceWomen just need to TRAIN HARDER and stop being such bad losers! Sometimes, it takes a real elderly sportswoman to show them young ladies how it's done. Even the visually impaired ones, like in this instance. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…51Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Women just need to TRAIN HARDER and stop being such bad losers! Sometimes, it takes a real elderly sportswoman to show them young ladies how it's done. Even the visually impaired ones, like in this instance. twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Others continued making allegations against Valentina Petrillo:"Man steals woman’s medal"Neale Hanvey MP ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✊@JNHanveyMan steals woman’s medal 🥉#Truth and #SexMatters twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Oliver Brown@oliverbrown_telJust an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…275Just an absurd situation that Valentina Petrillo, who only began transitioning in 2019, can be on a global athletics podium for women at the age of 49. 18 years older than any other competitor in the race. @TelegraphNews piece here telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023…Man steals woman’s medal 🥉#Truth and #SexMatters twitter.com/oliverbrown_te…Paralympics coach denounces Valentina Petrillo's participation View this post on Instagram Instagram PostFormer Paralympic head coach, Peter Eriksson also spoke on the burning topic, criticizing Valentina Petrillo's participation at the women's event. In a conversation with Reduxx, he expressed his views on the matter.“It’s shocking to see that women’s opportunities to a medal were taken by a cheating 49-year-old male,” he said.He also added that the International Paralympic Committee was diminishing the fairness in women’s sport by permitting transgender athletes to participate at their events. In his opinion, the IPC should have also adopted the rules and regulations of World Athletics on transgender and DSD participation.