More than 300 players compete on the WTA Tour in a typical season, yet until recently only a small fraction ever faced formal eligibility checks. That imbalance is about to vanish: beginning this month, the WTA is making every player on tour take a single genetic test to stay eligible. The rule, announced through tennis writer Ben Rothenberg’s newsletter, ends years of suspicion-based, case‑by‑case reviews that only targeted a few players.

“The WTA’s Women’s Eligibility Policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments,” the organization said. 

“Since first being introduced in 1975, the eligibility policy has undergone periodic review in light of developments across international sport. Following the most recent review, which included consultation with WTA members and evolving standards across women’s sport, the Board approved a new policy beginning in 2026 based on biological sex.”

What this essentially means is that starting Tuesday, players must undergo a one-time genetic screening as part of the revised policy. The process requires a cheek swab, blood, or saliva sample, which will be tested for the SRY gene, a marker on the Y chromosome associated with male biological development.

Players who test negative will be cleared to compete. Those who test positive will proceed to a second stage involving a more detailed medical evaluation before a final eligibility decision is made.

“The updated policy is intended to provide a clear eligibility standard for participation in WTA tournaments,” the organization’s statement continued. “Eligibility will be confirmed through a one-time SRY gene screen. Testing starts in 2026, with privacy safeguards and a player education program in place.” 

The update follows discussions with national federations and other stakeholders, particularly in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympics. While the WTA says the policy brings consistency and clarity, critics argue it may raise concerns about inclusion and athlete rights.

The WTA first introduced its women’s eligibility framework in 1975, and the policy has shaped the tour for nearly five decades. It has helped define who can compete at the highest level of professional tennis, reinforcing a standard that continues to carry significance today.

Over the years, the WTA has updated and refined this framework to reflect broader changes in international sport, including shifts in governance standards, athlete welfare, and inclusion. By referencing 1975, the organization underscores that eligibility for the women’s category has long been governed by formal rules rather than ad hoc decisions.

That historical context is important. In the 1960s, the Olympics used chromosome testing to verify female athletes, but by the 1990s, officials abandoned the practice after critics argued it was both unreliable and unfair. Today, advances in DNA testing have brought similar questions back into focus, though in a different form.

With this latest shift, the WTA moves away from its 2024 guidelines, which allowed transgender women to compete if they maintained testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for at least two years. Under the new system, players will undergo genetic screening once in their careers and must formally consent to the process.

Refusal or ineligibility can mean more than a ban. Players could lose prize money, ranking points, and face public scrutiny. For many, that is a career-level risk. Renee Richards’ case in the 1970s was the last high‑profile eligibility dispute of its kind. With no active transgender players on tour today, the WTA’s move looks preemptive to some observers: they see it either as setting standards early, or as solving a problem that does not yet exist.

How the WTA’s policy fits into a broader shift across international sport

The WTA is not alone. Other major sports bodies have moved in the same direction. World Athletics introduced a similar SRY test in September 2025, used at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo.

The IOC says only biological females, verified by SRY screening, can compete in women’s events from the 2028 LA Olympics. World Boxing rolled out a similar policy last year.

WTA’s move is the first by any independent professional women’s sports league or tour to institute mandatory SRY gene screening, which applies to every player on its roster. In the past, groups like World Athletics and the IOC tested only when doubts arose about a player’s eligibility. In recent years, they have moved to universal one-time SRY testing for all women, but they oversee many sports, not just one.

No case was named. The WTA calls this a uniform, confidential standard. But with the 2028 Olympics approaching, the pressure is on. The open question is whether other tours will follow, or whether tennis will stand alone on this line it has drawn.