Women's tour mandates gene test for eligibility

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has announced a significant policy change, mandating a one-time gene test for all players seeking to compete on the women's tour. This new eligibility requirement, effective Tuesday, focuses on the SRY gene, which plays a role in determining biological sex. The test can be administered through a simple cheek swab or blood sample.

This updated policy replaces the WTA's previous regulations, which permitted transgender women to participate if they declared their gender as female and maintained reduced testosterone levels for a period of two years prior to competition. Currently, there are no known transgender women actively competing at any professional tennis level.

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Eligibility to participate in WTA tournaments will be confirmed through a required, one-time screening process for the SRY gene.

A WTA spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the screening process, which will commence in 2026, is designed to confirm eligibility. The organization emphasized its commitment to upholding strict confidentiality and data privacy safeguards throughout the process. This will run concurrently with a comprehensive player engagement program.

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Player screening will begin in 2026, following all appropriate confidentiality and data privacy safeguards and concurrent with a comprehensive player engagement program.

The WTA acknowledged the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the issue, stating its dedication to treating all players with dignity and implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful manner. The decision follows similar measures adopted by other sports federations, including World Athletics and World Boxing, and aligns with the International Olympic Committee's recent guidance that eligibility for female category events will be determined by a one-time biological sex test.

The debate over transgender athletes' inclusion continues, with figures like Martina Navratilova expressing concerns about fairness, while others, such as Billie Jean King, view exclusion as discriminatory. Transgender advocacy groups argue that excluding transgender athletes constitutes discrimination, while critics contend that advantages gained through male puberty are not fully mitigated by transition.

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The WTA recognizes that this is a sensitive and complex issue and is committed to treating all players with dignity and implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful way.