Netball Australia investigating NSW Swifts shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph over anti-transgender social media post

Samantha Wallace-Joseph of the NSW Swifts. Photo / Getty Images

Australian netball’s governing body is investigating online comments that may have breached the sport’s code of conduct, after New South Wales Swifts player Samantha Wallace-Joseph posted anti-transgender sentiment on her Instagram account.

Netball Australia and Super Netball released a joint statement on Tuesday confirming they were looking into the situation.

“Netball Australia and the Suncorp Super Netball League are committed to embracing diversity and ensuring the sport is welcoming and safe for everyone who wants to participate, including members of the LGBTIQA+ community,” the statement said.

“The Suncorp Super Netball League is closely working with the NSW Swifts in relation to the sport’s Code of Conduct.”

Wallace-Joseph came under fire after reposting an Instagram tile of Joe Biden highlighting March 31 - Easter Sunday - as International Transgender Day Of Visibility.

“The disrespect is crazy. Don’t play with GOD,” Wallace-Joseph wrote over the slide in a story that has since been deleted.

International Transgender Day Of Visibility has been celebrated on March 31 since 2009, whereas the date of Easter Sunday is determined using an astronomical calculation and changes each year.

The Swifts released a statement on Monday saying Wallace-Joseph’s social media activity had “caused understandable hurt to members of the transgender community” and the club did not share her views.

“Many members of our family, both directly within the club and in the stands, identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community,” the statement said.

“The NSW Swifts club will always be their allies.”

Wallace-Joseph was scheduled to meet with club representatives on Tuesday to discuss their concerns.

The 30-year-old has played with the Swifts since 2017, after moving from Trinidad and Tobago to Australia to compete in Super Netball.