Women's Tennis Introduces Mandatory Sex Testing

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has introduced mandatory genetic sex testing for all female players, the BBC reported. From this year, players will be required to undergo a one-time cheek swab, blood or saliva test to detect the presence of the SRY gene, which is located on the Y chromosome and is responsible for male sex development.

Only players who test negative will be eligible to compete on the WTA Tour. A positive result will trigger a more detailed medical assessment, while refusal to undergo testing may result in disciplinary action.

The new policy replaces rules introduced in 2024 that allowed transgender women to compete after maintaining testosterone levels below a specified threshold for two years. The WTA said the revised policy is based on biological sex and is intended to ensure fair competition and equal opportunities in women's professional tennis.

The WTA joins governing bodies including World Athletics and World Boxing, which introduced similar mandatory genetic testing last year.

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