Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is suing the sponsor of a credit card directly marketed to gays and lesbians, saying it uses her name and likeness after her request in February for them to stop, The Associated Press reported. Do Tell Inc., which offers the Rainbow Card, filed a counterclaim suit, accusing Navratilova of making false accusations in an attempt to “destroy” the company, 365Gay.com said.

On Feb. 8, Navratilova’s attorneys sent a letter to Do Tell telling them to stop using the former Wimbledon champion’s likeness.

Navratilova seeks at least $75,000 in damages from Pennsylvania-based Do Tell. Rainbow Coalition, a nonprofit, is partly funded by the Rainbow Card and promotes the health and social well being of GLBT people. The suit charges that Do Tell has continued to use Navratilova.

Do Tell had been using Navratilova to market the card since 1995 with her permission. Near the end of 2004, Navratilova became dissatisfied with the card’s marketing, which she called “inappropriate and repugnant.”

In its legal reply, Do Tell, founded by Navratilova, Pamela Derderian and Nancy Becker in 1995, disputes many of Navratilova’s allegations and accuses her of breaching her fiduciary duty as an officer of the company.

Navratilova said she is “not an officer” of the company and has no management role, while Do Tell said in the suit that Navratilova is president of the company and also serves as a director, 365Gay.com said.

“It is denied that Navratilova retained the right to terminate at any time her general consent and approval to the use of her name, likeness and photographs by Do Tell. To the contrary, Navratilova was obligated to consent to and approve all uses of her name, likeness and photographs during the entire term of Do Tell’s contract with the bank that issues the Rainbow Card,” Do Tell said in its legal documents.

Traveler’s Bank initially issued the Rainbow Card, and Citibank later acquired the card through a merger. MBNA America Bank then purchased the Rainbow Card portfolio from Citibank.

Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion and winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, is still a highly ranked doubles player both in women’s doubles competition and mixed. She won the mixed doubles Grand Slam title with Leander Paes at the Australian Open in 2003 at the age of 46.