Tennis players will now be required to complete a one-time genetic test in order to be eligible to compete on the women’s tour. The WTA confirmed this to the press and cited its updated participation rules.
“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 prudent manner,” the statement read. Comparable tests have already been adopted by other international sports bodies, including track and field and boxing.
Tests via cheek swab, blood-, or saliva-sample
The eligibility to participate in WTA events will henceforth be demonstrated through a mandatory, one-time screening for the SRY gene. The test checks whether the gene located on the Y chromosome is present, a gene that plays a key role in the development of male sexual characteristics. The genetic test can be performed either by cheek swab or on the basis of a blood or saliva sample.
The new policy goes into effect this Tuesday. Previously, transgender women were allowed to participate in WTA tournaments as long as they identified their gender as female and maintained a suppressed testosterone level for two years prior to competition. There are currently no known transgender women active on the WTA Tour.
Trump administration sparked trans panic
The WTA is following the IOC’s stance on the issue, TheColu.mn reported. The catalyst was the political transition in early 2025 in the United States, which amplified anti-trans narratives in sports. The Trump administration pressured sports federations to stop accepting transgender people.
The trans ban is a political decision against the acceptance of transgender people, since scientific studies to date have generally found that transgender women do not have a universal advantage over cisgender women (TheColu.mn reported).
