Women’s Tennis Association bans trans women & will require mandatory sex testing to compete

The WTA was founded by gay tennis legend Billie Jean King, who has been a fierce advocate for trans inclusion in sports.

The global organizing body for professional women’s tennis will institute a new policy on Tuesday requiring all competitors to undergo testing to confirm their female sex.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced that the policy will “preserve the integrity of women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions” by confirming whether players have the SRY gene, which is located on the Y chromosome and plays a major role in the development of male genitalia. Testing for the gene typically involves a blood test or a cheek swab.

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The rule mirrors those implemented by both World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee. The WTA’s statement on the mandatory testing appears to have been removed from its website, but according to The Athletic, the organization said it “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 thoughtful way.”

“This policy distinguishes between biological sex and gender identity, and between biological females and biological males, solely to the extent necessary to ensure that the policy is clear and has its intended effect,” the statement reportedly read. “There is no intent to disrespect or question the gender identity or the dignity of any person.”

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Dr. Andrew Sinclair, the professor who first identified the SRY gene, said that testing for the gene is an inadequate method of establishing biological sex.

“All it tells you is whether or not the gene is present. It does not tell you how SRY is functioning, whether a testis has formed, whether testosterone is produced, and, if so, whether it can be used by the body,” Sinclair wrote last August.

The WTA previously allowed trans women to compete. A policy implemented in 2024 stated that trans women could participate in tournaments after staying below a specific testosterone level for two years. The organization updated its rules despite there being no known trans women currently competing on the WTA tour.

The WTA was founded in 1973 by gay tennis legend and LGBTQ rights activist Billie Jean King, who has been a fierce advocate for trans rights. In 2020, King was one of more than 170 women athletes who signed an amicus brief in support of transgender girls and women playing sports on teams that align with their gender identity.

“There is no place in any sport for discrimination of any kind,” King wrote at the time. “I am proud to support all transgender athletes who simply want the access and opportunity to compete in the sport they love. The global athletic community grows stronger when we welcome and champion all athletes – including LGBTQI+ athletes.”

At the end of last year, the United States Tennis Association also banned trans women from competing in women’s events.

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