Sophie Cunningham is no longer alone in the spotlight after saying transgender women should not compete in the same leagues as biological women. Now, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has joined that same debate.
Sabalenka addressed the issue openly, saying she supports the WTA’s decision to introduce biological testing to determine eligibility for women’s competition. Her comments quickly drew criticism, as the debate over transgender athletes in sports remains far from settled.
Sabalenka backs the WTA’s new policy
Sabalenka indirectly echoed Cunningham’s position by supporting the WTA’s recently updated policy, saying she believes biological testing is necessary to preserve fairness in women’s tennis. During a press conference, she argued that biological men have physical advantages over biological women, making the competition unfair.
The WTA introduced the updated policy just a few weeks ago, explaining that it had taken time to reach the decision. The move sparked criticism from those who oppose biological testing and argue that transgender athletes belong in sports. Within a short period, Sabalenka and Cunningham publicly talked about this matter.
The debate continues beyond the court
Sabalenka not only backed the measure but also said the WTA took too long to implement the testing, making her comments even more controversial. After answering the question directly, she made it clear she wanted to move on from the subject and focus on her career, including her goal of remaining the world No. 1.
Sabalenka believes transgender women have physical advantages over biological women, which would create an unfair competitive environment. While she did not address the wording of the policy itself, the WTA stated that there is “no intent to disrespect or question the gender identity or the dignity of any person.” The policy also defines a “biological male” as an individual who has or previously had an SRY gene and testes or streak testes, regardless of legal sex or gender identity, while a “biological female” is defined as an individual who has no SRY gene and has or previously had ovaries or streak ovaries.
Today, Sabalenka and Cunningham share the spotlight for the same reason, though not in a positive way. Their support for separating transgender women from women’s competition has led many critics to accuse both athletes of being transphobic.
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