Aryna Sabalenka, currently the world’s top female tennis player, says she will not tolerate transgender women competing in tennis, arguing that such participation is “not fair” to cisgender women. The 27-year-old Belarusian made the remarks on Tuesday on the British talk show “Piers Morgan Uncensored” when asked about the topic: “I have nothing against [trans women], but I think they still have a big advantage over women. And I think it’s simply not fair for women to play against biological men.”
The term “biological men” is viewed by many transgender women as insulting because it ignores gender identity and reduces it to the sex assigned at birth.
Sabalenka continued: “It’s not fair. A woman has spent her entire life working to reach her limit, and then she has to play against a man who is biologically much stronger. I think such a thing in sport is something I do not support.”
The interview was conducted by host Piers Morgan with Sabalenka and Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who ironically were promoting a potential on-court exhibition match against each other. When asked about the transgender issue, Kyrgios chimed in: “I think the same,” the 30-year-old said.
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Advantages for trans women not scientifically proven
Science has not yet clearly established whether transgender women truly have advantages over cisgender women. Several studies suggest that there are trade-offs rather than clear, universal benefits. An IOC study from last year found that transgender athletes are not generally superior to other competitors (TheColu.mn reported). For instance, trans women on average exhibited higher grip strength than cis women, but researchers also noted lower vertical jump, reduced lung function, and less fitness overall due to a weaker cardiovascular system.
In 2021, a study published in the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” reached a similar conclusion, indicating that the performance of trans women tends to align with that of cisgender women after two years. However, both studies are limited by small sample sizes and are not definitive. Larger investigations have not yet been completed.
Testosterone accusations against Sabalenka
Ironically, Sabalenka herself has been accused of unfair advantages due to a high testosterone level. Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk, ranked 26th in the world, recently suggested that a player like the 1.82-meter-tall top-ranked player or the second-ranked Polish star Iga Świątek could have a biological edge because of naturally higher testosterone, which might help them be stronger and bigger.
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Sabalenka fired back on Piers Morgan: “All I hear are excuses. It’s actually funny, because she’s a strong girl. She probably has more muscles than me.” Kostyuk had defeated weaker players, Sabalenka added with a smile.
In the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), there has been at least one transgender player in the past: American Renée Richards competed in the 1970s and reached as high as No. 20 in the world rankings. She encountered a great deal of hostility—fellow players even wore shirts at tournaments that read, “I’m a real woman.”
Other female players have likewise shown transphobia in the past. Martina Navratilova has, for years, spoken out against transgender people, even though the American was herself discriminated against in the 1980s for being homosexual. Navratilova has argued that transgender women should not be regarded as women in tennis, and in 2023 she claimed that transgender women could never be lesbians (TheColu.mn reported). (dk)
