Two transgender netball players have been banned from competing in Australia's Riddell District Football Netball League after video footage emerged showing one player knocking an opponent to the ground.
The incident involved Melton Central player Manawa Aranui sending a member of the Romsey team crashing to the court during play.
There was no foul called during the incident. Aranui, who previously played elite men's netball before transitioning, was seen offering to help the fallen opponent to her feet.
The footage prompted a host of complaints from rival teams, leading to the league's decision to exclude both transgender players from competition.
Melton Central player Manawa Aranui sent a teenage opponent tumbling to the floor
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Following the complaints, Victoria's Riddell District Football Netball League announced that both transgender Melton Central teammates were excluded from competition for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Melton South Netball Club had threatened to boycott matches against Melton Central due to safety concerns.
The league acknowledged the pair "exhibit superior stamina and physique" in their official statement.
"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 statement said.
Netball Victoria has confirmed it is investigating the issue by engaging an independent expert to assess concerns.
Aranui had already faced bans from other governing bodies after transitioning, with the Ballarat Football Netball League deeming her ineligible for their women's competition in April after obtaining legal advice citing the Sex Discrimination Act.
Manawa Aranui used to play men's netball at an elite level
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Despite these previous bans, Aranui continued to play for Melton Central. She was recently named best on court in a Division 1 grand final.
Melton South's netball coordinator Melissa Dawson told News Corp reporters 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."
Netball Victoria allows non-binary and transgender players to register and play in female competitions based on self-identified gender, not legal sex. This contrasts sharply with protections for women's sport in the UK.
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🚨🚨🚨 Footage has emerged of a female netballer being knocked to the ground after clashing with a trans identified male player who used to play elite men’s netball.
— Rachael Wong (@RachaelWongAus) May 27, 2025
It comes after Netball Victoria launched a review into whether these male players pose a risk to female players.… pic.twitter.com/uCDM7m6rDH
England Netball was among organisations to immediately ban all transgender women from competing in the female category following the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.
The court determined that the word "woman" applies to biological females.
This ruling has established clear protections for women's sport across Britain, creating a marked difference in approach between Australian and British sporting governance on transgender participation.
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