Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka Supports Sport's New Sex Test Policy

World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has voiced her support for the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) new policy mandating genetic testing for all players, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fairness in the sport. "I think it's really important to keep the fairness in our tour," Sabalenka stated on Monday. "Obviously, biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not be really fair for a woman to compete against a biological man."

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I think it's really important to keep the fairness in our tour

The WTA's new policy, set to be implemented in July 2026, will require a one-time, mandatory genetic test for every player. This protocol includes testing for the SRY gene, a DNA segment typically found on the Y chromosome, which can be administered via a cheek swab or blood test. Players must also sign a document acknowledging that refusal to undergo testing could lead to disciplinary action. This replaces the previous policy that allowed transgender women to compete if their testosterone levels were below 2.5 nmol/L for two consecutive years.

Sabalenka, who has held the world No. 1 ranking for 92 consecutive weeks, believes the decision was carefully considered. "I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and I support it," she said. "If they want to test us all, I'm happy to do that; it's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way."

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Obviously, biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not be really fair for a woman to compete against a biological man.

However, the new policy has drawn criticism from some quarters. Maria Jose Martinez-Patino, whose own experiences with gender verification significantly influenced sporting policy in the 1980s, described the genetic testing as a "setback of several decades." She expressed concern that the policy harks back to the 1950s and 1960s, when women faced extensive and intrusive controls. "I get the impression that we haven't advanced from a scientific point of view," Martinez-Patino told DW in 2025. "We've made practically no progress if it's now categorically said that women with X and Y chromosomes are not women."

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I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and I support it. If they want to test us all, I'm happy to do that; it's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way.

The debate surrounding transgender athletes' participation in sports has become increasingly politicized. Figures like former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines have become prominent activists campaigning against the inclusion of trans women in women's sports. This follows similar policy shifts in other sports, including World Boxing, World Athletics, and the International Olympic Committee, which updated its guidelines in early 2026.

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it's a setback of several decades.