American tennis star Coco Gauff addressed the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) updated eligibility policy during a nbcnews.com post-match news conference. Speaking after her opening-round victory against Kayla Day in Toronto, the two-time Grand Slam champion offered a nuanced perspective on the organization’s new genetic testing requirements while expressing support for the transgender community.
Coco Gauff Weighs In on WTA Genetic Testing and Transgender Inclusion
The revised policy requires all competitors to undergo a one-time screening for the SRY gene, a DNA sequence found on the Y chromosome that is involved in male-typical sex development. According to the WTA, testing can be conducted through a simple cheek swab, blood sample, or saliva sample. Players who test negative for the marker are immediately eligible to compete, while a positive outcome triggers further medical evaluation before a final eligibility determination is made. Refusing to undergo the testing can result in disciplinary action.
Gauff told reporters that she understood the rationale behind protecting competitive fairness, but noted that many athletes learned about the rule change through a press release rather than direct communication. I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity toward the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of, but I also understand the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that,
Gauff stated. She added, So, I think it’s a conversation that is very nuanced and I need to have a nuanced answer.
Balancing Competitive Fairness and Protection Against Harassment
The updated rules replace earlier guidance that permitted transgender athletes to compete based on specific testosterone levels. Although currently no transgender women play on the professional tour, the policy aligns with updated international standards, including eligibility updates from the International Olympic Committee ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Gauff acknowledged the difficulty of navigating the public debate without her remarks being misconstrued. I don’t really know how to answer this question in a way that people aren’t going to spin it,
she said. As far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too.
She further criticized individuals who use the athletic fairness debate as a vehicle to target transgender people, stating she dislikes the attacks generated by the discourse.
Broader Tour Reactions and Scientific Scrutiny
Reactions among players and tour leadership have varied. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka expressed strong backing for the measures, emphasizing the physical differences between male and female athletes. I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,
Sabalenka said. Biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for women to compete against biological men.
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova also endorsed the implementation.
At the same time, the testing methodology has faced questions from scientific experts. Professor Andrew Sinclair, who discovered the SRY gene in the 1990s, described the screening method as an overly simplistic way to determine biological sex, noting that it identifies the gene’s presence but does not measure its overall impact on athletic performance.
The WTA defended the decision, stating that the policy was approved following consultations with its members and a review of evolving eligibility standards across international women’s sports to promote equal athletic opportunities.
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