12 hours ago
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.
