Gene testing will now be part of women’s tennis according to the Associated Press on Monday. It is a requirement for all female tennis players to be tested if they hope to participate at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and to continue to participate on the WTA Tour.
Whether or not mandatory gender screening should take place in sport has its critics including those from the LGBTQ community. However, it has been put in place to “promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments” according to the WTA Tour in a statement on the BBC website. The WTA went on to state, “following the most recent review, which included consultation with WTA members and evolving standards across women’s sport, the WTA board approved an updated WTA eligibility policy beginning in 2026 based on biological sex.”
It should also be noted that those athletes who refuse to be tested will face disciplinary action. In recent months, former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended four years for refusing an anti-doping test by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, there are no transgender players active on the WTA Tour. The most famous transgender tennis player was Renee Richards of New York City (pictured above), who successfully fought to compete in women’s tennis in the 1970s. She reached the United States Open women’s doubles final in 1977 and the United States Open mixed doubles semifinal final in 1979. Initially, Renee Richards was born Richard Raskind in New York City in 1934, and then transitioned to being a female in 1975.
One person who has fought hard banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports is United States President Donald Trump. The American government will deny visas of all transgender athletes trying to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
