The Women's Tennis Association, after updating its eligibility policy for players participating in tournaments, announced that it will require players to pass a genetic test, conducted once, to prove their eligibility to compete in WTA tournaments. The association stated that the test will be conducted once in a lifetime to detect the 'SRY' gene, which helps determine biological sex, and can be done via a cheek swab or blood analysis. The new policy will take effect starting Tuesday. The previous policy allowed transgender women to participate if they had declared their sex as 'female' and maintained a low level of testosterone for two years prior to competition. There are currently no transgender players competing professionally. A spokesperson for the association told Reuters: 'Eligibility for participation in WTA tournaments will be confirmed through a mandatory screening process, conducted once, to detect the SRY gene.' He added: 'Player screening will begin in 2026, with all appropriate safeguards for confidentiality and data protection, in conjunction with a comprehensive player engagement program.' Martina Navratilova, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, has been one of the most vocal critics of including transgender athletes, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka stated last year that it would be unfair for women to face transgender players.