Tennis star Coco Gauff has shared her thoughts on the Women’s Tennis Association’s new gene testing policy.
Speaking during a press conference at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Gauff said she understands the reasoning behind the decision but believes the policy has also fueled negative consequences for the transgender community.
3The world of sports has introduced stricter eligibility policies in recent years aimed at preventing transgender women from competing in the women’s category.
The WTA joined that movement on July 21, and Gauff, who is competing at the National Bank Open in Toronto, has since shared her perspective on the policy.
“I understand the reasoning behind it, and I do think this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of,” Gauff told reporters after her second-round win over Kayla Day.
“I also understand the, I guess, biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that,” she added.
The Tennis Star Warns Rule Is Fueling Anti-Trans Attacks
3Gauff made the remarks while responding to a question about the policy, which has sparked criticism from some quarters.
According to the tennis star, any response to the issue requires nuance because the topic itself is nuanced. She also acknowledged that some people would inevitably interpret her comments differently than intended.
Ultimately, Gauff said she has no issue with the policy itself but is concerned it could be used as a vehicle for attacks on the transgender community.
“I do not like the attack that it is creating (by) people who don’t really care but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community,” said the world No. 4.
“As far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need to create fairness in sport, too,” she added.
Gauff Says Some Players Were Surprised By The Rule
Elsewhere in the interview, Gauff said some of her fellow players were caught off guard by the rule change. Based on that, she suggested the WTA could have been more transparent about the decision, particularly with players competing on tour.
However, that account appeared to conflict with comments from world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who described the rollout differently in an interview earlier this month.
“It wasn’t just kind of laid on us like, ‘You have to do this.’ There was a lot of education, and stuff in the background of all the stuff players have had to do to learn about it,” Pegula said.
“I think the WTA just wanted to update their policy based on what they’ve seen from other sporting organizations,” she added.
Aryna Sabalenka Voices Support For WTA Policy
3Gauff and Pegula are among the few women’s players to publicly address the WTA’s gene testing policy.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also weighed in, emphasizing what she believes is the importance of maintaining fairness across the tour.
“Biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for the women to compete against biological men,” she said.
“I support it. But for me, I’m focusing on myself, on my goals, you know, whatever it takes. If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that. It’s pretty fair, and let’s keep it that way,” Sabalenka added.
Inside The WTA’s New Gene Testing Policy
The WTA said the policy update reflects “evolving standards” across women’s sports. The organization said the changes are intended to preserve the integrity of women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition while respecting the gender identity and dignity of those being tested.
Players will undergo a one-time test using a cheek swab, blood sample, or saliva sample. The collected sample will be screened for the SRY gene, a segment of the Y chromosome associated with male-typical sex development.
The WTA will cover the cost of testing, and all results will remain confidential. A positive result will make a player ineligible to compete unless they can demonstrate they have Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or another recognized Difference of Sexual Development.
