Anti-abortion advocate calls for Serena Williams to be stripped of grand slam title, claiming her pregnancy meant two people were playing, not one

An Australian politician is calling for Serena Williams to be stripped of the grand slam title she recently won while pregnant because, according to him, the fetus is a person and as such counts as a double partner.

Claiming "foetal personhood", Rev. Fred Nile MP, said Serena playing tennis with another living being in her body meant she was unfairly advantaged. 

 

"She was playing doubles in a singles tournament!" Nile screamed at the ‘Day of the Unborn Child’ protest.

"I believe that ‘life at conception’ should be the law, and that clearly means two people won the Grand Slam. That’s clearly against the rules!"

A lot of people did not agree with Nile’s view that pregnancy is a sporting advantage and argued that his statement shows his ignorance to the realities facing those who are pregnant.

"Serena Williams was in control of her own body during the Grand Slam tournament, and as such has the right to her title, and the right, always, to bodily autonomy", said Immy Grantson, an outspoken activist campaigning for progress on women’s issues.

"Williams, like all people, has the right to choose what she does with her body: whether that be powerful backhands, and/or be pregnant", said Grantson.

This comes at a crucial time in New South Wales legislation. Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi’s End12 Campaign hopes to make it legal for world class athletes to choose whether or not they are pregnant.