1.1 The purpose of this policy is to preserve the integrity of women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions for all players participating in WTA Tournaments.
1.2 This policy will come into effect on July 1, 2026 and will replace the previous version of this policy from that date onwards. It forms part of the WTA Rules and is binding on and must be complied with by all players, and (to the extent applicable to their roles) by officials, Tournament Support Personnel, Player Support Team Members, other Credentialed Persons, and other persons who are bound by the WTA Rulebook or otherwise subject to the WTA’s jurisdiction.
1.3 This policy distinguishes between biological sex and gender identity, and between biological females and biological males, solely to the extent necessary to ensure that the policy is clear and has its intended effect. There is no intent to disrespect or question the gender identity or the dignity of any person.
1.4 In this policy, ‘biological male’ means an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has an SRY gene and therefore has or previously had testes or streak testes; and ‘biological female’ means an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has no SRY gene and therefore has or previously had ovaries or streak ovaries.
1.5 Other defined terms used in this policy (indicated by use of initial capital letters) have the meaning given to them in this policy or (if not defined in this policy) the meaning given to them elsewhere in the WTA Rules. In particular, (a) the phrases ‘SRY Screening’ and ‘SRY Screen’ mean genetic analysis of a player’s saliva, cheek swab or blood sample or such other method as the WTA may specify to screen for the presence of the SRY gene, which is the gene responsible for turning undifferentiated gonads into testes rather than ovaries; (b) the phrase ‘Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome’ means the genetic condition (ORPHAcode 99429; ICD10-E34.5) that renders the subject’s androgen receptors completely unresponsive to androgens; (c) the phrase ‘Medical Manager’ means a medically qualified person who is authorized by the WTA to act on its behalf in matters arising under this policy; (d) the phrase ‘Male Mini-puberty’ means the hormonal surge of gonadotropins and testosterone which occurs in early infancy, spiking at two to three months postnatal age and ending at around six months; and (e) the phrase ‘Male Adolescent Puberty’ means a sustained progressive increase in hormones, including testosterone, usually around age nine through fourteen years old. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this policy to clauses are to clauses of this policy.
1.6 This policy will be subject to periodic review to take account of relevant scientific, medical and other developments, including stakeholder feedback on its application. In the event an issue arises in the application of this policy that is not foreseen in this policy, it will be addressed by the WTA in a manner that protects and advances the imperatives underlying this policy. The WTA may issue further regulations and/or guidance on the practical implementation of this policy.
1.7 This policy operates without prejudice to the other requirements in the WTA Rulebook that are applicable to all players. In particular, but without limitation, nothing in this policy permits, excuses or justifies non-compliance with any of the requirements of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, including the requirement to obtain a therapeutic use exemption before using substances that are included on the WADA Prohibited List.
2.1 Further to Section I.A of the WTA Rulebook, WTA Tournaments are open to all women tennis players. For purposes of Section I.A, ‘women’ means those individuals who satisfy the following conditions (the ‘Eligibility Conditions’):
2.1.1 Biological females, provided that a biological female who has previously used testosterone or another androgen as part of gender-related treatment may not compete in WTA Tournaments until four years have passed since the last such use.
2.1.2 Biological males who demonstrate to the satisfaction of the WTA Medical Manager that due to their Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or other disorder of gonadal development (e.g., chromosome mosaicism/Klinefelter’s syndrome, ovo-testicular dysgenesis, or similar), they have never experienced the physiological effects of either Male Mini-puberty or Male Adolescent Puberty.
2.2 A player must demonstrate their eligibility to compete in WTA Tournaments by means of SRY Screening.
2.2.1 If the SRY Screen is negative for the presence of the SRY gene, the player will be permitted to compete in WTA Tournaments. Unless there is reason to believe a negative result is in error, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime test.
2.2.2 If the SRY Screen is positive for the presence of the SRY gene, the player will not be permitted to compete in WTA Tournaments pending further medical assessment in accordance with clause 3.2.
3.1 A player who wishes to compete in WTA Tournaments must sign and file a copy of the form attached as Exhibit A to this policy (the Player Acknowledgement and Agreement of Eligibility Form) with the WTA, acknowledging and agreeing to abide by and to comply in full with this policy, and to demonstrate their eligibility to compete under this policy by means of SRY Screening and (where necessary) in accordance with clause 3.2.
3.1.1 At the WTA’s request, a player must undergo and cooperate in full with SRY Screening conducted by or on behalf of the WTA or recognized by the WTA. This includes providing a cheek swab, blood sample and/or saliva sample at the time and place and in the manner required by the WTA and satisfying any other WTA requirements in respect of that SRY Screening. It also includes consenting to the screening laboratory reporting the results of that SRY Screening directly to the WTA Medical Manager. Any player who fails to comply in full with these requirements will not be eligible to compete in WTA Tournaments.
3.1.2 The WTA may provisionally suspend a player from competing in WTA Tournaments pending receipt of a copy of the player’s signed Player Acknowledgement and Agreement of Eligibility Form and/or confirmation that the player meets the Eligibility Conditions. The rules in the WTA Rulebook relating to withdrawals due to a provisional suspension issued pursuant to the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (see Sections III.A.1.d.v and VIII.A.4.a.iii of the 2026 WTA Rulebook) are applicable to any provisional suspensions issued pursuant to this clause 3.1.2. In all such cases, all reasonable endeavours shall be used to determine the player’s eligibility under this policy as soon as possible.
3.1.3 The WTA may recognize the results of SRY Screening conducted by or on behalf of another sport governing body or other appropriate third party where the WTA considers those results to be sufficiently reliable.
3.2 If an SRY Screen is positive for the presence of the SRY gene, the WTA Medical Manager (or their designee) will notify the player. In such circumstances, it will be the player’s responsibility to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the WTA Medical Manager that they have Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or another disorder of sex development that means they have never experienced the physiological effects of either Male Mini-puberty or Male Adolescent Puberty.
3.2.1 The WTA Medical Manager may make such enquiries or investigations as they consider necessary to determine accurately and effectively whether or not the player has Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or another disorder of sex development that means they have never experienced the physiological effects of either Male Mini-puberty or Male Adolescent Puberty, including conducting further testing and/or requesting further information from the player and/or the player's physicians and/or consulting with independent experts. As part of the assessment, the player and/or the player’s physicians must provide a comprehensive medical history to the WTA Medical Manager. The player is responsible for ensuring that nothing relevant to the WTA Medical Manager's assessment of their case is withheld from the WTA Medical Manager.
3.2.2 Unless and until the WTA Medical Manager is satisfied that the player has Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or another disorder of sex development that means they have never experienced the physiological effects of either Male Mini-puberty or Male Adolescent Puberty, the player may not compete in WTA Tournaments. Where considered necessary in order to protect the objectives underlying this policy, the player may be granted conditional eligibility to compete in WTA Tournaments, i.e., their eligibility is conditional on continuing satisfaction of one or more conditions. In such cases, the references in this policy to the Eligibility Conditions will be to the Eligibility Conditions as varied by the WTA Medical Manager further to this clause 3.2.2.
3.3 The WTA Medical Manager may investigate any other case by such means as they deem necessary, including (without limitation) commissioning an SRY Screen for a player if such a test has not already been reliably performed.
4.1 Each player competing or seeking to compete in a WTA Tournament is deemed to have agreed, as a condition to such participation:
4.1.1 to comply in full with this policy, including only competing in WTA Tournaments if the player meets the Eligibility Conditions;
4.1.2 to cooperate promptly and in good faith with the WTA Medical Manager in the discharge of the WTA Medical Manager’s responsibilities under this policy, including:
4.1.2.1 providing all of the information and evidence requested by the WTA Medical Manager to determine whether the player meets the Eligibility Conditions;
4.1.2.2 ensuring that all information and evidence provided by the player or on the player’s behalf to the WTA Medical Manager is valid, authentic, accurate and complete, and that nothing relevant is withheld; and
4.1.2.3 consenting to and ensuring the disclosure by the player’s physician(s) to the WTA Medical Manager (or their designees) of any information or evidence that the WTA Medical Manager deems necessary for the assessment of the player’s case;
4.1.3 (to the fullest extent permitted under applicable laws) to the collection, processing, disclosure and use of information (including their sensitive personal information) as required to implement and apply this policy effectively and efficiently; for this purpose, all players will be requested to sign a consent form for eligibility screening;
4.1.4 to follow exclusively the procedures set out in clause 6 to challenge this policy and/or to appeal decisions made under this policy, and not to bring any proceedings in any court or other forum that are inconsistent with that clause; and
4.1.5 to provide written confirmation of the player’s agreement with clauses 4.1.1 to 4.1.4 upon request by the WTA.
4.2 A player may revoke the consents that they have previously given in accordance with clause 4.1 at any time, with or without giving reasons, in which case they will no longer be eligible to compete in WTA Tournaments.
4.3 Each Tournament Support Personnel, Player Support Team Member, and other Credentialed Person, and every other person who is bound by the WTA Rulebook or otherwise subject to the WTA’s jurisdiction:
4.3.1 is bound by and must comply in full with this policy to the extent applicable, including with this clause 4.3 and clause 4.4;
4.3.2 must cooperate promptly and in good faith with the WTA Medical Manager in the discharge of their responsibilities under this policy;
4.3.3 must ensure that any information they provide to the WTA Medical Manager for consideration under this policy is valid, authentic, accurate and complete; and
4.3.4 must not provide any information to the WTA Medical Manager in bad faith, to harass, stigmatize or otherwise injure another person, or for any other improper purpose.
4.4 The dignity of all players must be respected at all times. In particular (but without limitation), any conduct that disparages or calls into question a player’s eligibility under this policy, or that harasses a player on the basis that their appearance does not conform to gender stereotypes, will be considered a serious violation of the Code of Conduct and/or the Safeguarding Code (or of any replacement or successor rules), as applicable.
5.1 The WTA may take disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Conduct (or any replacement or successor rules) against:
5.1.1 a player who knows that they do not meet the Eligibility Conditions but still competes in a WTA Tournament;
5.1.2 a player who fails to demonstrate that they meet (or met) the Eligibility Conditions, e.g. by refusing to undergo SRY Screening as requested by the WTA within a reasonable timeframe as determined by the WTA in its sole discretion;
5.1.3 a player who fails to cooperate fully and in good faith with the efforts of the WTA Medical Manager to assess compliance with the Eligibility Conditions under clause 3.2; and
5.1.4 anyone else who is bound by this policy who violates this policy themselves or who is complicit in a violation of or non-compliance with this policy by another.
5.2 In such proceedings:
5.2.1 The validity, legality or enforceability of this policy or of any decision made under this policy may not be challenged. Instead, such challenge may only be made in accordance with clause 6.
5.2.2 The consequences that may be imposed, depending on all of the circumstances of the case, include (without limitation):
5.2.2.1 a caution, reprimand and/or warning as to future conduct;
5.2.2.2 a specified period of ineligibility to participate in WTA Tournaments;
5.2.2.3 denial of privileges or exclusion from WTA Tournaments;
5.2.2.4 disqualification of results achieved by a player while ineligible; and/or
5.2.2.5 a fine.
5.3 Players acknowledge that if consequences are imposed under this policy, the reason for the imposition of the consequences may become public knowledge or the subject of public speculation.
5.4 There will be no readjustment of medals, titles, prize money, or ranking points for any player who competed against a player who is subsequently found to have been ineligible under this policy. No player or other person may bring a claim against the WTA or any person involved in the implementation of this policy on behalf of the WTA for losses allegedly incurred (including, without limitation, in relation to medals, titles, prize money, or ranking points) as a result of a person competing in WTA Tournaments who is subsequently determined to be ineligible under this policy to compete in WTA Tournaments.
6.1 This policy is governed by the laws of the state of Florida, excluding Florida conflict of law principles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the WTA Rulebook or WTA By-Laws, the validity, legality and/or enforceability of this policy may only be challenged before a federal or state court located in Saint Petersburg, Florida, which is the WTA’s principal place of business. All persons submit to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of resolving such proceedings, and agree that Saint Petersburg, Florida is the proper venue for such proceedings. Pending final determination of the proceedings, the provisions of the policy will remain in full force and effect unless the federal or state court orders otherwise.
6.2 Subject strictly to clause 6.1, and notwithstanding any other provision of this policy or anything to the contrary in the WTA Rulebook or WTA By-Laws, the following decisions made under this policy may only be challenged as follows:
6.2.1 a decision that a player is not eligible under this policy to compete in WTA Tournaments may be appealed by that player to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (‘CAS’);
6.2.2 a decision to suspend a player provisionally from competition pursuant to clause 3.1.2 may be appealed by that player to the CAS; and
6.2.3 a decision to impose consequences on a person pursuant to clause 5 may be appealed by that person to the CAS;
provided that the validity, legality or enforceability of this policy may not be challenged as part of that appeal. Instead, such challenge may only be made in accordance with clause 6.1. For the avoidance of doubt, no person other than the player who is the subject of the decision may appeal against or otherwise challenge that decision, including (without limitation) (a) a decision by the WTA Medical Manager that a player is eligible or ineligible under this policy to compete in WTA Tournaments; or (b) a decision by the WTA to exercise or not to exercise its powers against a player under clause 3.1.2 or clause 5.1.
6.3 The CAS will hear and determine an appeal permitted under clause 6.2 in accordance with the CAS Code of Sports-Related Arbitration. Any such appeal will be conducted in the English language and will be governed by this policy, with the laws of the state of Florida (excluding Florida conflict of law principles) applying subsidiarily.
6.4 Pending final determination of an appeal to the CAS permitted under clause 6.2, the provisions of the policy and/or the decision under challenge or appeal will remain in full force and effect unless the CAS orders otherwise.
6.5 The decision of the CAS with respect to an appeal permitted under clause 6.2 will be final and binding on all parties, and no right of appeal or other challenge will lie from that decision on any ground, except as set out in Chapter 12 of the Swiss Federal Code on Private International Law.
7.1 All cases arising under this policy, and in particular all player information provided to the WTA under this policy, and all results of screenings, examinations and assessments conducted under this policy, will be maintained in strict confidence at all times. All medical information and data relating to a player will be treated as sensitive personal information and the WTA will ensure that it is processed by the WTA as such in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy laws. Such information and data will not be used by the WTA for any purpose not contemplated in this policy and will not be disclosed to any third party save (a) as is strictly necessary for the effective application and enforcement of this policy; or (b) as is required by applicable law.
7.2 The WTA will not comment publicly on a case arising under this policy except in response to public comments attributed to the player or the player's representatives. In provisional suspension and ineligibility cases, the WTA will consult with the player or the player’s representatives on whether and if so how to communicate publicly about the player’s eligibility status.
8.1 Any player seeking to understand and comply with the requirements of this policy applicable to them may seek assistance from the WTA’s Performance Health Department.
8.2 At the request of a player whose case is being assessed under this policy, the WTA will offer professional counselling or such other support services as the WTA Medical Manager deems appropriate in the circumstances and will pay the costs charged by the counselor or other service provider for providing such assistance.
9.1 Unless otherwise stated, the costs incurred by the WTA in assessing and monitoring compliance with this policy will be borne by the WTA. The costs of SRY Screening and any further testing to demonstrate that a player meets the Eligibility Conditions, including the costs of any medical assessment, examination, and/or reporting that may be required by the WTA, will be paid by the WTA. Any other costs incurred by the player in complying with this policy will be borne by the player in question.
10.1 In no circumstances will the WTA or any of the WTA’s directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, representatives, any independent expert consulted by the WTA Medical Manager in relation to the application of this policy, or any other persons involved in the administration of this policy, be liable in any way in relation to acts done or omitted to be done in good faith in connection with the administration of this policy.
10.2 Each case arising under this policy will be addressed as quickly as is reasonably practicable in all of the circumstances. However, in no circumstance will the WTA or any of the WTA’s directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, representatives, any independent expert consulted by the WTA Medical Manager in relation to the application of this policy, or any other persons involved in the administration of this policy be liable for any detriment allegedly suffered by the player in question or anyone else as a result of the length of time taken to complete (i) the investigation and/or assessment of their case, or (ii) any appeal before the CAS.
I, the undersigned player, acknowledge that I have read and agree to comply in full with the WTA Women’s Eligibility Policy (the “Eligibility Policy”). In particular (but without limitation):