The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) decision to implement a mandatory sex testing policy for all female professional players, which took effect on July 21, has sparked wider debate, drawing mixed reactions from players.
Under the new policy, all women on tour must undergo a one-time mandatory genetic test for the SRY gene through a blood sample or cheek swab.
The gene is a segment of DNA usually found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in a foetus and indicates the presence of testes, ESPN Philippines reported.
The new policy also requires players to sign a document stating that they may face disciplinary action if they refuse to undergo testing, while players who test positive will undergo further medical assessment before being allowed to compete.
The move follows the WTA’s previous eligibility policy introduced in 2024, which allowed transgender women to compete on the Tour provided they maintained testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for the previous two years.
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Critics blast policy change
However, critics sharply denounced the move, saying the policy was made public through press releases rather than being communicated directly to players through internal consultation.
Human rights advocates opposed to gender testing in sports also argue that the policy may undermine inclusivity and harm the transgender community, even though there has not been a transgender player on the WTA Tour since Renee Richards, who reached a Grand Slam doubles final at the age of 43.
Meanwhile, experts note that some women naturally have a Y chromosome while identifying and living as women, highlighting that biological sex development and genetics are not always strictly binary.
A 2014 study titled “Having a Y chromosome doesn’t affect women’s response to sexual images” also found that women born with a Y chromosome showed similar brain responses to visual sexual stimuli.
Psychologist Kim Wallen said the findings provide “further evidence that we need to revamp our thinking about what we mean by ‘man’ and ‘woman.'”
WTA defends genetic sex tests
Despite the criticism and concerns, the WTA said the policy is part of broader efforts to preserve the integrity of professional tennis and ensure fair competition.
“The WTA’s women’s eligibility policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments,” the governing body said, as quoted by the BBC.
The WTA also said it would continue treating players with dignity and respect following concerns that genetic sex testing could affect human rights.
“The WTA recognises 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.”
It added that the policy seeks to distinguish biological sex from gender identity and that there is “no intent to disrespect or question the gender identity of any person.”
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Mixed reactions from top tennis players
Following the implementation of the policy, top-ranked players expressed mixed views, with some supporting the move while others raised concerns.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she supports the one-time genetic testing policy, emphasising the need to preserve fairness in women’s sport, Yahoo Sports reported.
“It’s obviously, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not be really fair for the woman to compete against biological man,” she said during a press conference at the 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.
Meanwhile, World No. 4 Coco Gauff said she supports the policy but expressed concern that the debate surrounding it could fuel hostility toward the transgender community.
“I understand the reasoning behind it. I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity toward the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of, but I also understand the need to, I guess, the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that,” she said.
Debate intensifies in sports community
The debate comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a policy requiring universal genetic sex testing for all female athletes at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
According to the IOC, the testing aims to determine eligibility for women’s competition under its updated policy framework.
Mandatory genetic screening has also been adopted by several international sports federations, including those governing athletics, swimming, boxing, skiing and snowboarding.
The latest developments have further intensified debate among athletes, fans and sports officials over how to balance competitive fairness with inclusivity and continued support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Newsjustnews writers 
James Mario Ajero 
Elan Castanares