WTA mandates one-time SRY gene test for women's tennis eligibility

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced that all players will be required to undergo a genetic test for the SRY (sex‑determining region Y) gene, a marker used to confirm biological sex. The policy, unveiled in a statement released Tuesday, applies to competitors in WTA‑sanctioned events worldwide and is intended to standardize eligibility criteria across the tour.

According to the WTA, the SRY gene test will be administered by accredited laboratories and the results will be kept confidential, with data used solely to verify compliance with the organization’s gender‑verification guidelines. The association indicated that testing will begin ahead of the upcoming season, and that players who decline or fail to provide a valid result may be ineligible to compete. The move follows ongoing discussions within professional sports about consistent methods for determining eligibility based on biological sex.