WTA mandates gene testing for players

What the new rule entails

Since 21 July, every player on the WTA tour has been subject to a one-time screening for the SRY gene - a marker located on the Y chromosome that is central to male sex development. The test can be carried out via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample, and the policy classifies anyone carrying the gene as a "biological male", irrespective of legal sex or gender identity.

A first for women's sport

The WTA is the first major women's sports league to impose mandatory genetic screening. The move brings the tour into line with International Olympic Committee regulations, meaning players eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Games would face comparable requirements regardless.

Scientific pushback

Notably, Andrew Sinclair - the scientist who discovered the SRY gene - has spoken out against the approach adopted by both the IOC and the WTA. Sinclair argues that relying on a single genetic marker oversimplifies the far more nuanced biology of sex determination.

Player response and timing questions

Several players are understood to have asked the WTA for clarity on the policy before it was formalised. Since its announcement, no active player has publicly criticised the rule. The WTA has framed the measure as essential to preserving the integrity of women's professional tennis.

The timing has drawn scrutiny, however. The announcement coincided with a WTA event being relocated to the United States, prompting speculation that organisers were keen to sidestep political controversy - though others insist the policy had been in development for months.