Overview
- In late July the WTA changed its women’s eligibility rules to require a one-time genetic screen for the SRY gene, replacing the previous testosterone-based policy.
- The tour plans a phased rollout starting at major events with initial testing scheduled for the Cincinnati Open, using cheek swabs, saliva or blood samples and describing results as confidential.
- Top players gave mixed reactions: Aryna Sabalenka publicly endorsed the policy as fair, Coco Gauff said she supports trans people while acknowledging fairness concerns, and several players said communications about the change were uneven.
- Medical experts including Professor Andrew Sinclair and rights groups say the SRY test does not measure athletic advantage and can wrongly exclude people with Differences (DSD), creating risks of misclassification.
- The policy brings tennis into line with other sports and IOC guidance ahead of the 2028 Olympics and raises likely legal, medical and privacy challenges over how samples and genetic data will be stored and used.