María José Martínez Patiño
María José Martínez Patiño is a former Spanish athlete and current professor at the University of Vigo. Known for her groundbreaking advocacy for gender rights in sports, she gained notoriety in 1986 when a controversial sex verification test led to her exclusion from competition due to her intersex condition. After years of fighting for inclusion and rights for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD), she has become a prominent voice against regressive policies in athletics, particularly those that threaten the integrity and inclusion of female athletes.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Maria José Martínez Patiño was banned after a gender test and is now confronting the new rules in the World Championship.
Maria José Martínez Patiño ble utestengt etter kjønnstest. Nå tar hun et oppgjør med de nye reglene i VM.
Norway· 2025-09-18Maria José Martínez Patiño was excluded from the Spanish national team after a gender test revealed her Y chromosome.
Leichtathletik-WM: Mann oder Frau? Warum ein Gentest im Sport für Streit sorgt - Gesundheit
Germany· 2025-09-13
María José Martínez Patiño is a Spanish hurdler who was affected by the SRY gene issue.
Las atletas españolas se someterán al test genético de feminidad en los campeonatos nacionales de este fin de semana | Deportes
Spain· 2025-08-01
María José Martínez Patiño was the first to successfully challenge gender testing after being unable to participate in the 1988 Olympics.
El COI debe enfrentar el regreso del lostest de género
Venezuela· 2025-06-23
María José Martínez Patiño is a former Spanish athlete who was excluded from competition due to a controversial sex verification test.
María José Martínez Patiño: “Estamos locos; los controles de sexo en atletismo son un retroceso cuestionable desde el punto de vista ético” | DeportesSpain· 2025-04-01
