WTA Mandates One-Time SRY Gene Test for Women's Category Starting Tuesday

The Women's Tennis Association will require all players to complete a one-time SRY gene test to compete in the women's category beginning Tuesday. The test, performed by cheek swab or blood sample, screens for the presence of the gene segment on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero.

Executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Games. The WTA states the measure is intended to preserve the integrity of women's professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions. Under the new definitions, a biological male is an individual who has an SRY gene and therefore has or previously had testes or streak testes.

The WTA said the policy distinguishes biological sex from gender identity and carries no intent to disrespect any person's dignity. The previous WTA policy, introduced in 2024, allowed transgender women and non-binary players to compete if they declared a female or non-binary identity and maintained testosterone below 2.5 nmol/L for two years.

No transgender women are known to be active on the WTA tour at present. Similar one-time SRY gene screening is already required by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing, and boxing.