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Sporting organizations transgender eligibility policies

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-24 06:31 UTC → 2026-08-26 04:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Sporting organizations are implementing new policies regarding athlete eligibility based on biological sex. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has commenced a rollout of a policy requiring a one-time genetic test, such as a blood test or cheek swab, to identify the presence of the SRY gene. This move has drawn mixed reactions from players, with some supporting the measure for competitive fairness and others expressing concern regarding the potential targeting of the transgender community. At the Cincinnati Open, the rollout was confirmed by Jessica Pegula. While Aryna Sabalenka voiced support for the measure, Coco Gauff expressed concerns that the initiative could target the transgender community. Martina Navratilova noted that some players may hesitate to speak publicly due to the risk of “social vilification.” The WTA stated the policy aligns with International Olympic Committee guidelines and noted that while the mandate effectively prohibits transgender women from competing, there are currently no active transgender women on the circuit. Previously, transgender women could participate if they identified as female and maintained low testosterone levels for two years. Human rights organizations have criticized the mandate. The Sports & Rights Alliance argued the tests ignore biological complexities and could cause trauma, while Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch described the tests as “unethical, unscientific, and unfeasible,” suggesting they rely on gender stereotypes. Other sporting bodies are also amending their regulations. The Football Association of Wales and the Royal Yachting Association have updated their rules to prioritize biological sex over self-identified gender following legal warnings regarding the Equality Act 2010. In Australia, Golf Australia has adopted a tiered system: grassroots players may select a handicap without medical testing, while elite competitors must adhere to strict medical guidelines and testosterone level requirements.

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