Latest news with #SallGrover
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
One of the biggest names in tennis history throws her weight behind Aussie activist who is fighting a crusade against trans women in sport
Martina Navratilova, one of tennis's most celebrated figures, has backed Australian women's rights activist Sall Grover amid growing tensions over transgender inclusion in women's sport. Navratilova, who won 59 Grand Slam titles and dominated women's tennis for more than three decades, has recently reignited the debate by supporting Grover's calls for clearer policies on gender-based competition. The tennis legend voiced her support on social media platform X after commenting on the controversy surrounding Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif. Khelif was banned by World Boxing in 2025 following new sex-testing policies despite winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her ban followed prior disqualification from the 2023 Women's World Championships over alleged gender eligibility concerns, although she was cleared by the IOC to compete in Paris. Navratilova posted: 'Looking forward to all the apologies here!!!! All those who called us and most of all the opponents of Imane horrible names etc.' Pictured: The exchange on social media platform X in which Navratilova showed her support for Grover One of her followers responded, urging her to help women in Australia who felt that sporting fairness was under threat. 'Men can identify as women, simply because they say they are… Women's sport is suffering. Please help us raise awareness,' the follower posted. Navratilova replied: 'I know. Sall is on it – she will get it right for Australia eventually.' Grover, founder of the female-only app Giggle for Girls, has been one of Australia's most vocal critics of transgender inclusion in women's sport. She argues that allowing trans women to compete in female categories undermines the integrity, fairness and safety of those competitions. Grover said: 'Sports aren't played with edited birth certificates, they're played with bodies.' She has called for federal legislation to ensure women's sport is reserved for biological females. 'All guidelines need to clearly state that female sport is female only, and no legal fiction a man gets can overrule that,' Grover said. 'Sports aren't played with edited birth certificates, they're played with bodies.' The Giggle v Tickle case, in which Grover was found to have indirectly discriminated against a transgender woman, is currently under appeal. Grover said a legal win would 'establish that men cannot be women & that women-only spaces, services & sport are for women – the biological ones, the only kind of women there is.' Transgender inclusion in Australian sport varies by level and code. At the community level, self-identification is generally accepted, consistent with Human Rights Commission guidelines. However, elite and professional codes follow more stringent policies, often requiring evidence of hormone levels and transition timing. This is advised by the Australian Institute of Sport to maintain fairness and safety. Grover has rejected this two-tiered system, pushing for a total ban on transgender participation in women's sport. 'Where guidelines are letting down Australian women and girls, by letting men and boys self identify into our spaces and sport, we need federal legislation that can override any nonsense guidelines,' she said. 'We need laws that clearly state that anything exclusively for females is strictly female only, and that no male can ever be a female.' Navratilova's public support marks a significant international endorsement of Grover's position. It also arrives amid a growing number of Australian sports cases involving transgender athletes. In 2025, the Riddell District Netball Football League banned two transgender players, including Manawa Aranui, after safety complaints. In 2023, Basketball Australia ruled Lexi Rodgers ineligible to play in the NBL1 South women's league following a medical panel review. The WPGA Tour of Australasia followed suit in 2024, amending its eligibility rules to exclude transgender players like Breanna Gill unless they transitioned before puberty. Transgender athletes have experienced mixed rulings across sports. Hannah Mouncey, though barred from the AFLW in 2018, was allowed to represent Australia in international women's handball. Mianne Bagger, a transgender golfer, made history in 2004 by competing professionally in the Ladies European Tour after her transition. Navratilova has long advocated for LGBTQ+ rights but has raised concerns about competitive equity in elite women's sport. She continues to support inclusion at amateur levels but questions the impact of biological advantages in elite female competitions. Grover believes politicians and institutions have failed to provide leadership, leaving women to fight their battles through legal and public forums. 'Without effective leadership on this issue from politicians or institutions like the Australian Human Rights Commission or Australian Institute of Sport, the fight has been left to every day women to battle in court and society to ensure that women have rights,' she said.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Prominent women's rights activist breaks her silence after two transgender netballers were BANNED by a local league in Australia
A women's rights activist has spoken of her delight after two transgender athletes were banned from competing in a local netball league in Victoria. Australian businesswoman Sall Grover - who founded a women's only social media app called Giggle For Girls - says she is also hopeful that the decision might pave the way for other sporting bodies to follow suit. Earlier on Wednesday, it was revealed that two transgender netball players were being banned from competing in Victoria's Riddell District Netball Football League for the 2025 season. The athletes had been playing for Melton Central against Melton Souths, but over the weekend, footage emerged showing one of the Central players, Manawa Aranui, appearing to send an opponent crashing to the floor of the court. The play was legal and Aranui had offered to help her rival player back to her feet. Some players of the Melton Souths contingent have subsequently threatened to boycott matches against Melton Central over safety concerns on their decision to name two transgender players in their squad. Grover, meanwhile, had previously called for the exclusion of both Central netball players, but upon learning that both had subsequently been handed bans, the Australian said the decision was 'very satisfying'. 'I am incredibly happy that there has been one sport in Australia who has acknowledged the relevance of female sport,' Grover told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'm very, very happy because - and for it to be netball is also very good - netball is traditionally a female-led sport and it appears that they've looked at the law and gone, oh yeah, turn on, we can ban these men and there's nothing they can do about it. That is very satisfying.' The subject of transgender athletes has been a hotly debated topic in recent years, with multiple sporting bodies, from World Athletics to World Netball, prohibiting trans players from competing in top-level events. When pressed on why she believes it is important to stop transgender athletes from comopeting in female events, Grover said: 'It exists so women have safety and fairness. 'I mean, there's a reason why women aren't going out there and demanding to be part of - the example I always use - Can you imagine a woman on a rugby union field? I mean, she'd be killed. If they played at their full capacity, she's dead. 'Or then she changes the entire match because they don't play at their full capacity. And so it's this boring match where everyone watching players tiptoe around because there's a woman on the field. 'It changes the entire game. It just is what it is. We watch these matches to watch the most extreme fitness of bodies in play like right now.' Victoria's Riddell District Netball Football League released a statement on Wednesday on the bans, revealing they had made the decision to impose suspensions on the two players in relation to Section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act. The statement read: 'After lengthy consideration and consultation, the RDFNL has ruled that the two transgender participants be excluded from the RDFNL Netball Competitions for the remainder of the 2025 season on the premise that both participants exhibit superior, stamina and physique over their competitors deeming Section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act relevant.' The Sex Discrimination Act makes it clear that it is against the law for a person to discriminate against another because of their sex or gender identity. Section 42 of that act, states: 'Nothing in division one or two renders it unlawful to exclude persons of one sex from participation in any competitive sporting activity in which the strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant.' Aranui, meanwhile, has subsequently broken her silence on the matter, after it was announced she and another player had been banned. 'I've sat quietly long enough while this narrative brewed and I've been dragged—publicly and without consent — into a conversation where both my character and identity have been attacked,' Aranui wrote. 'You're entitled to believe it's 'unfair' for cis women to compete against transgender women. That's your opinion. But the lies? They need to stop. 'You're not out here protecting women's sport. You're being malicious, using false narratives to mask your bigotry and personal agendas behind the guise of 'safeguarding women's spaces.' 'You've spread stories, targeted me, and enabled me to become the sole focus of online abuse and sideline harassment from other clubs and their supporters — right here, in a space where I come to play a sport I love. A place I come to laugh, sweat, compete, and find community. 'I hope you're proud of that. And I hope no child in your families ever has to endure what you've subjected me to.' Netball Victoria is understood to be investigating the matter. 'We support and welcome netballers of all backgrounds,' a spokesperson for Netball Victoria said. 'That includes gender diverse players who have rights under anti-discrimination laws.' The governing body's current policy, introduced in 2018, allows transgender and non-binary players to register and compete in female competitions based on self-identified gender. 'Our goal is to ensure every player feels safe, valued and supported,' the spokesperson added. 'We are working closely with affected clubs to find a resolution that is lawful, inclusive and safe for all participants.' However, by allowing trans athletes to compete in women's disciplines, Grover claims sports are not respecting the rights of female athletes to fair competition. 'I mean, fairness is following the same rules as everyone else, which is just participating in sport according to your sex category,' Grover, who has worked in the film and television industry and studied journalism and philosophy at Bond University, added. 'That's all it is. And so if you wanted any sort of accommodations in that, it would be like making sure that male teams were quite OK with guys that wear skirts arriving and if they have the feminine presenting them, whatever, the trans-identified men, they just accept them. So the onus is on them. 'The onus is not on women's sports teams to change the entire rules of the game and put women in danger and take away opportunities. Because the other thing, and this isn't necessarily a bigger thing in recreational netball-type sports, but leaning up further into it, we must remember that every time there's a man on the team, or in the track event, or the swimming, whatever it is, women missing out purely because he's there. Because it's a numbers game. So there's eight people who can swim in the race and you've got seven women and one man. Well, who's the eighth woman who missed out? Because they put him in instead. She didn't even get a chance.' While World Netball prohibits trans players from competing on the international stage, Equality Australia, who advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, say blanket bans on trans athletes are unfair. 'Community-level sport should focus on inclusion and participation,' a representative said. 'Sport is for everyone, and [Australian Institute of Sport] guidelines reaffirm the need that sporting bodies play their part in providing a safe and inclusive environment for all,' Beau Newel, Equity Australia national program manager of pride in sport added. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) guidelines add that it is important for all Australians to have the chance to compete in sport. 'All Australians should have the opportunity to be involved in sport and physical activity, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or ethnicity,' the ASC writes. 'It is important that sporting bodies, from local clubs through to national sporting organisations, reflect the diversity in the communities they are a part of, and that together, we ensure every person is treated with respect and dignity and protected from discrimination.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Women's rights campaigner reveals she believes transgender player should be BANNED from local netball comp after boycott threats
Women's rights campaigner Sall Grover has called for the immediate exclusion of transgender athlete Manawa Aranui from women's netball, saying that in her opinion she is putting players at risk and undermining female sport. Grover, founder of the women-only Giggle for Girls social media platform, made her comments after Melton South Netball Club threatened to boycott matches against Melton Central, where Aranui currently plays. Aranui is a former elite men's netballer who transitioned and now competes in women's leagues, and was recently named best on ground in a Division 1 grand final. But her inclusion in the Melbourne competition has led to player's calling for her removal for safety reasons and threats to boycott matches she is playing in. 'Everyone needs to ask themselves why female sport exists in the first place,' Grover said. 'It's because male and female bodies are different, and bodies play sport.' 'Sex-segregated sport gives women and girls the opportunities to excel that wouldn't be possible if there were no exclusive women and girls' categories.' Melton South players have publicly stated they feel unsafe on court playing against Aranui. 'One of the players is six foot something - it's ridiculous,' said coordinator Melissa Dawson. 'Netball Victoria needs to put the safety of biological females first.' One B Grade player told News Corp: 'I went up for the ball and just got pushed and dropped. They're so much stronger. I'm genuinely scared I'll get hurt.' Grover said there are already mixed-sex competitions available and questioned why transgender athletes aren't directed to those instead of women's leagues. 'There are many mixed-sex netball competitions at the recreational level,' she said. 'Everyone on those teams is making a choice to participate in a mixed-sex competition. 'So if a person who declares themselves 'trans' does not want to participate in their sex class, the mixed-sex category is right there as an option.' 'Everyone needs to remember, no one is having to do inquiries into whether females can compete on the Wallabies rugby union team, for example. 'Aside from the fact that trans men are not demanding access to male sport like trans women are demanding access to female sport, the danger is obvious.' 'One female on the field would change the game for everyone and put her in extreme danger. 'Well, it's the same for netball, just in the opposite. Males on female teams put the females in danger, while taking away the limited opportunities there are for sportswomen.' Grover also said the current review process is unnecessary. 'There are protections in the Sex Discrimination Act for female - only sport - look them up,' she said. 'All of the sporting bodies could be relying on the legislation as it is, without any reviews, but they're not. 'Instead, they're giving in to men who demand access to women's sport. But the protections are there to be used the moment anyone decides to use them.' In response, Netball Victoria has confirmed a formal investigation is underway. An independent expert has been engaged to review safety concerns and determine whether policies have been correctly applied. In a public statement, Netball Victoria reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion. 'We support and welcome netballers of all backgrounds,' a spokesperson said. 'That includes gender diverse players who have rights under anti-discrimination laws.' The organisation said its current policy, introduced in 2018, allows transgender and non-binary players to register and compete in female competitions based on their self-identified gender, not legal sex. It was developed in partnership with Proud 2 Play and aligns with national guidelines from the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission. 'Our goal is to ensure every player feels safe, valued and supported,' the spokesperson added. 'We are working closely with affected clubs to find a resolution that is lawful, inclusive and safe for all participants.' Professor Paula Gerber from Monash University has previously disputed that transgender women are men, saying they are considered women in the eyes of the law. 'The law says trans women are women,' Professor Gerber said. 'Every Australian state and territory has its own anti-discrimination laws that operate alongside federal legislation.' Equality Australia, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, has stated there is no case for blanket bans on trans athletes and that fairness should not come at the cost of exclusion. 'Community-level sport should focus on inclusion and participation,' a representative said. 'Sport is for everyone, and [Australian Institute of Sport] guidelines reaffirm the need that sporting bodies play their part in providing a safe and inclusive environment for all,' Equity Australia national program manager of pride in sport Beau Newell said. Aranui has already been ruled ineligible by the Ballarat Football Netball League following legal advice about strength, stamina, and physique being relevant to competition. However, she continues to play in other leagues where policy interpretation varies. Grover, who is appealing a Federal Court ruling against her for excluding a transgender woman from her app, insists this fight is not about hate but about protecting sex-based rights. 'My stance is about safety, fairness and reality,' she said.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Giggle CEO ‘confident' about court ruling appeal
Giggle Chief Executive Sall Grover discusses her appeal on the 'Giggle vs Tickle' Federal Court Case. A court decision ruled the women-only social media app Giggle had unlawfully discriminated against a transgender woman. 'I've always been really confident,' Ms Grover told Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power. 'I actually think that the truth always wins.'
