World No 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has welcomed new Women's Tennis Association transgender eligibility rules that introduce mandatory genetic sex testing for players. The governing body announced the policy last month to establish eligibility to compete as a female on the WTA Tour.
The organisation's previous policy permitted biological males to compete in the women's category if they maintained testosterone levels below a certain level. Under the updated rules, WTA players must undergo a sex screening for the SRY gene, which is found on the Y chromosome and is typically involved in male sex development.
Players will be eligible to compete on the female-only circuit once they pass the test, which is completed through a simple cheek swab, blood test or saliva sample. A positive test will spark further medical assessment before a player is cleared to play against female rivals, and players must sign documentation acknowledging that refusal to be tested could result in disciplinary action.
Speaking about the move, 28-year-old Sabalenka said she was in favour of the changes and would have no hesitation in undergoing the testing herself. "It's very important to maintain fairness in our circuit," Sabalenka said. "It's obvious that, biologically, men are much stronger than women, so it wouldn't seem fair to me for a woman to compete against a biological man."
"I think it took them a while to make this decision and, yes, I support it," she added. "But I'm concentrating on myself, on my goals, on whatever it takes. If you want to test us all, I will gladly do so, it's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way."
Last December, Sabalenka competed in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match with Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, which she lost 6-3, 6-3. That exhibition drew widespread criticism, with many brandishing it as a publicity stunt that risked trivialising the women's game.
Support from tennis icons and international bodies
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova, who has maintained strong views on keeping transgender athletes out of women's sport, was also quick to praise the WTA for the policy change. Writing on X, Navratilova called it a "step in the right direction."
"I played no part in this particular policy, but am very happy that we at the WTA are clear that we are a women's association and only women, as in females, can compete at the highest level of women's tennis," Navratilova wrote.
Other sporting organisations, including World Boxing and World Athletics, have already implemented similar testing for athletes seeking to compete in the women's category. The International Olympic Committee has also confirmed it will sex test athletes ahead of the next Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
