The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that all participants on its tour must now undergo genetic screening to verify their eligibility. Effective this Tuesday, the updated policy mandates that athletes provide a saliva, blood, or cheek swab sample to detect the SRY gene, which is located on the Y chromosome and triggers the development of male physical traits.
Athletes only need to complete this testing process one time. Participation in the tour is contingent upon receiving a negative result, confirming the absence of the gene. Individuals who return a positive result will be subject to additional medical evaluations before a determination regarding their eligibility can be made. Furthermore, players are now required to sign an agreement acknowledging that refusing the test could lead to disciplinary measures.
This update replaces the previous 2024 regulations, which allowed transgender women to compete if they maintained testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for two years. While no transgender women currently compete on the WTA circuit, the organization stated that the shift to a policy based on biological sex aims to ensure fair competition. The WTA emphasized that it intends to manage this complex matter with care and respect. Similar genetic testing requirements were recently adopted by World Athletics and World Boxing to govern entry into their respective female categories.
