The Women's Tennis Association has introduced a new policy requiring all players to undergo a genetic test to determine their biological sex in order to compete in the women's tour. This one-time test, which checks for the presence of the SRY gene, will be implemented starting Tuesday, with potential disciplinary actions for those who refuse to comply. The updated policy aims to establish a clear standard for eligibility in WTA tournaments, replacing the previous rules that allowed transgender women to participate if they identified as female and maintained a certain level of testosterone for two years prior to competition. The WTA has assured that the testing process will be carried out with confidentiality and respect for all players, acknowledging the complexity and sensitivity of the issue.
This move follows similar decisions by World Athletics and World Boxing to enforce SRY testing for female athletes in 2025.