The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that all players competing on the WTA Tour will be required to undergo a one-time genetic sex test under a new eligibility policy set to take effect on Tuesday.
Under the updated regulations, players must provide either a cheek swab, blood sample or saliva sample to determine the presence of the SRY gene, a gene found on the Y chromosome that plays a key role in male biological development.
According to the WTA, only players who test negative for the SRY gene will be eligible to compete on the women’s professional tour.
Those who test positive will undergo further medical evaluation before a final eligibility decision is made.
The new policy also requires players to sign a declaration acknowledging that refusal to undergo testing could result in disciplinary action.
The revised rules replace the WTA’s 2024 policy, which permitted transgender women to compete provided they had maintained testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L continuously for at least two years.
The WTA noted that there are currently no known transgender women competing on its tour.
Explaining the policy change, the governing body said the updated eligibility rules are intended to promote fair competition and equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis.
“The WTA’s women’s eligibility policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments,” the organisation said.
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It added that the policy had undergone periodic reviews since its introduction in 1975 and that the latest update followed consultations with WTA members and reflected evolving standards across women’s sports.
The WTA acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, stating that it remains committed to treating all players with dignity while implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful manner.
The decision follows similar measures adopted by other international sports bodies.
In 2025, World Athletics introduced mandatory one-time gene testing for athletes competing in the female category at world-ranking events, while World Boxing also implemented compulsory SRY gene testing for competitors in women’s events.
