WTA to begin mandatory genetic sex testing at Cincinnati Open

The Women's Tennis Association will conduct its first mandatory genetic sex screenings at the Cincinnati Open later this month, marking the operational rollout of a policy that has already drawn reaction from the sport's top players during the ongoing Canadian Open in Toronto.

Policy Takes Shape

The WTA's updated Women's Eligibility Policy, which took effect on July 21, requires every player on tour to undergo a one-time test for the SRY gene — typically found on the Y chromosome and involved in initiating male sex development. The screening can be administered via saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood test.aa+1

Players who test negative will be cleared to compete without further testing. A positive result does not automatically mean ineligibility but will bar the player from competition while further medical assessment is conducted. The policy permits eligibility in cases involving complete androgen insensitivity syndrome or other differences of sex development where the player can demonstrate they never experienced the physiological effects of male puberty.aa

Jessica Pegula told reporters in Toronto that players received education before implementation. "We had to watch a video and do a whole thing, like a rollout of the education and why we're doing it," she said. "It wasn't just kind of laid on us."ubitennis

Players Weigh In

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka endorsed the policy at a press conference on August 2, calling it essential for competitive fairness. "It's obvious that biologically, the men are way stronger than women," she said. "I feel like it would be not really fair for the women to compete against biological men."tennisuptodate+1

Coco Gauff offered a more layered response, expressing support for the policy while defending the transgender community from what she described as bad-faith attacks. "I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too," Gauff said. "People who don't really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community — I'm not really a big fan of that."yardbarker+1

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina was more measured: "For me, I won't say it's unnecessary, but I think that without these tests it is also fine. But if we need to do it, we will do it."ubitennis+1

Broader Context and Criticism

There are currently no known transgender players competing on the WTA Tour. The previous eligibility rule allowed transgender women to compete if their testosterone levels had been below 2.5 nmol/L continuously for two years.ubitennis

Some scientists have questioned the test's usefulness. Professor Andrew Sinclair, who discovered the SRY gene in 1990, has raised concerns about using it as a sporting eligibility tool, noting the test provides no information about the gene's actual impact on performance. Taylor Townsend highlighted what she called the irony of testing players like herself who have given birth: "I've conceived a child, birthed a child — like, this is crazy."ubitennis

World Athletics and World Boxing also conduct SRY testing, and the 2028 Olympics are set to implement similar screening.ubitennis