Video has surfaced of one of the players at the centre of a netball team’s trans boycott threat knocking an opponent to the ground on Saturday.
The footage shows Melton Central player Manawa Araunui – who played men’s netball at an elite level before transitioning – sending a player from the Romsey team crashing to the court in a completely legal piece of play, then offering to help her to her feet.
Melton South Netball Club has threatened to boycott matches against Melton Central due to safety concerns over the fielding of the two trans players.
Netball Victoria has confirmed it is investigating the issue by engaging an independent expert to assess the concerns raised by multiple players and clubs.
The review follows mounting complaints about the physicality of some transgender players, with claims that their size and strength create an uneven and potentially dangerous playing field.
Manawa Aranui, who previously played high level men’s netball, transitioned and began playing in women’s competitions, sparking safety and fairness concerns across several leagues.
Pictured: The moment Melton Central player Manawa Araunui (right, in blue and white) knocks her opponent to the ground in a game against the Romsey club
Aranui (pictured playing for Melton Central) was an elite player in men’s netball
In April, the Ballarat Football Netball League deemed Aranui ineligible for their women’s competition after obtaining legal advice citing the Sex Discrimination Act.
That act allows exclusion where ‘strength, stamina or physique’ are relevant to competition.
Despite this, Aranui continues to play for Melton Central, where she was recently named best on court in a Division 1 grand final.
Melton Central president Paul Sinclair confirmed both transgender players would take the court while the club awaits formal direction from Netball Victoria.
Melton South’s netball coordinator Melissa Dawson told News Corp she would support her players if they chose to forfeit games over safety concerns.
‘One of the players is six foot something – it’s ridiculous,’ she said. ‘Netball Victoria needs to put the safety of biological females first.’
B Grade player Erin described her discomfort facing the transgender athletes. ‘I went up for the ball and just got pushed and dropped,’ she said.
‘They’re so much stronger, and I’m genuinely scared I’ll get hurt.’
Netball Victoria has launched a formal review after clubs raised the alarm about competing against trans players like Aranui (pictured shooting for goal)
Non-binary netball player David Capron (left) has competed in both men’s and women’s competitions and believes ‘biological gender has nothing to do with ability’
Erin said she would sit out any future games against Melton Central if the players remain in the lineup.
Another Melton South player said a boycott might be the only way to send a clear message.
‘It deters women from playing the sport they love,’ she said. ‘We’ve worked hard to keep girls in the game.’
Netball Victoria said it remains committed to inclusion and is following its gender diversity policy developed in consultation with Proud 2 Play and based on national sport inclusion guidelines.
‘We support and welcome netballers of all backgrounds,’ a spokesperson said.
‘That includes gender diverse players who have rights under anti-discrimination laws.’
Netball Victoria’s 2018 bylaw change allows non-binary and transgender players to register and play in female competitions based on self-identified gender, not legal sex.
That rule opened the door for players like David Capron, a national men’s player who competed in both men’s and women’s leagues.
Capron, who uses he/him and they/them pronouns, said his goal was to be a ‘beacon of hope’ for queer youth in community sport.
‘Biological gender has nothing to do with ability,’ he said.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) guidelines on the inclusion of transgender athletes state that sports must comply with the Sex Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate, harass or victimise people due to their sex or gender identity.
There are exemptions for sports in which unfair advantages or safety risks can be objectively proven.
The ASC states, ‘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.
‘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.’
In May 2017, the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission release guidelines on trans and gender diverse inclusion in sport.
They state that sporting organisations will be breaking the law under the Equal Opportunity Act if they exclude people from participating in a sporting activity, or refuse or fail to select them in a team, on the basis of their sex or gender identity.
However, exceptions could apply ‘if strength, stamina or physique is relevant’.
