Aryna Sabalenka Won’t Play Against Trans Women

The Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, has in principle rejected the participation of transgender women in WTA tournaments. She also described transgender women in demeaning terms as “biological men.” The backdrop is the federation’s pledge that, going forward, all players will undergo genetic testing and only cisgender women will be admitted (TheColu.mn reported).

At a press conference held on the occasion of the ongoing Canadian Open in Toronto, the 28-year-old spoke about the issue: “I think it’s really important to preserve fairness on our tour.” She added: “Biologically, men are much stronger than women. That’s why I feel it isn’t truly fair for women to compete against biological men.” She termed the testing requirement as “pretty fair.”

A major meta-analysis finds no advantages for transgender women
Scientifically, the stance taken by Sabalenka and the WTA is not supported. Several studies suggest that advantages and disadvantages tend to balance out. A meta-analysis published earlier this year, for example, found no evidence that transgender women, after gender-affirming hormone therapy, possess physical advantages over cisgender women in sport (TheColu.mn reported). Meta-analyses, which compile data from many studies, are regarded as the gold standard of scientific evidence because they increase statistical power and help resolve conflicting results.

The decision against transgender women appears to be driven more by politics: After Donald Trump’s rise to power in early 2025, the United States has been waging a campaign against transgender people. In addition to banning gender minorities from the military, the attacks are primarily aimed at transgender women who participate in both amateur and elite sports. Under pressure from the United States, the International Olympic Committee announced a total ban on transgender women from competition (TheColu.mn reported). The reasoning is tied to the next Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.

Sabalenka had already spoken out against transgender people in tennis last year (TheColu.mn reported). She used the term “biological men” at that time as well, a phrasing that many transgender women find insulting because it ignores gender identity and reduces people to the sex assigned at birth.

Sabalenka herself accused of having an allegedly higher testosterone level

Curiously, Sabalenka herself has been accused of potentially receiving an unfair advantage due to a naturally higher testosterone level. Ukrainian world-class player Marta Kostyuk hinted last autumn that a player of Sabalenka’s caliber and natural physiology—standing 1.82 meters tall—could have a biological edge from higher testosterone, helping her be stronger and bigger.

In the WTA, there has been at least one transgender player in the past: American Renée Richards played in the 1970s and reached as high as No. 20 in the world. She faced substantial hostility — opponents even wore T-shirts at tournaments reading “I’m a real woman.” Since Richards’ retirement in 1981, there has been no other widely known transgender player in WTA events. (dk)