The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has overhauled its eligibility rules, introducing mandatory one-time genetic sex testing for all players seeking to compete on the WTA Tour, with the policy taking effect from Tuesday, 22 July 2025. The announcement, made on Monday, 21 July, marks the most significant revision to the governing body's women's eligibility framework since it was first established in 1975.

How the testing works

Under the revised policy, players must submit a cheek swab, blood, or saliva sample to be screened for the SRY gene — a component of the Y chromosome responsible for the development of male biological traits. Players who return a negative result, confirming the gene's absence, are cleared to compete. Those who test positive will undergo further medical evaluation before any eligibility determination is made.

Crucially, the test is a one-time requirement across a player's career. Players must also sign a declaration acknowledging they could face disciplinary action if they refuse to be tested.

What the WTA said

The governing body framed the change as a matter of competitive fairness. 'The WTA's women's eligibility policy aims to promote equal athletic opportunities in women's professional tennis and ensure fair competition for all players in WTA tournaments,' it stated.

The WTA also acknowledged the broader sensitivity of the issue: 'The WTA understands that this is a sensitive and complex matter. We are committed to treating all players with dignity while implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful manner.'

On the policy's evolution, the body noted: 'Following the latest review, which involved consultation with WTA members and changing standards in women's sport, the WTA board approved an updated women's eligibility policy based on biological sex, set to begin in 2026.'

What changes from the previous policy

The updated rules replace the WTA's prior eligibility framework, last revised in 2024, which permitted transgender women to compete provided they maintained testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L continuously for at least two years. The new policy shifts the standard from hormonal thresholds to a direct genetic marker. Notably, no known transgender women are currently competing on the WTA Tour, meaning the immediate competitive impact is limited — but the precedent is significant.

A broader shift in global sport

The WTA's move aligns with a wider trend across international sports bodies. World Athletics introduced mandatory one-time gene testing for athletes in the female category at world-ranking events in September 2025. World Boxing approved compulsory SRY testing for all female-category competitors in May 2025. The WTA's adoption of a similar framework signals that genetic-based eligibility criteria are becoming a governing standard across elite women's sport, replacing the testosterone-monitoring approach that had been the dominant model for over a decade.

What happens next

With the policy now active, all incoming players and those yet to be tested will be required to comply before competing. The WTA has indicated it will handle the process with confidentiality and medical oversight. How the policy interacts with players from jurisdictions with differing legal definitions of sex or gender remains an open question that sports lawyers and advocacy groups are expected to scrutinise closely in the months ahead.