World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has become one of the highest-profile athletes to publicly support stricter eligibility rules for women’s sports, backing the Women’s Tennis Association‘s recently introduced transgender participation policy during the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Her comments come just weeks after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham generated widespread debate by expressing similar views regarding transgender participation in women’s sports.
Although the two athletes compete in different sports, Sabalenka’s remarks have drawn comparisons because both emphasized competitive fairness as the primary reason for their positions.
The WTA recently announced updated eligibility guidelines that include a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome as part of its policy governing entry into women’s professional competition.
The changes have sparked significant discussion across the tennis world, with supporters arguing they protect competitive fairness and critics expressing concerns about inclusion and athlete privacy.
Asked about the new regulations during her press conference, Sabalenka made it clear she supports the governing body’s decision.
“I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,” she said.
The Belarusian star elaborated on her reasoning by pointing to biological differences between men and women in elite athletics.
“Biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for women to compete against biological men,” she added.
Sabalenka also endorsed the WTA’s testing requirement: “If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that. It’s pretty fair, and let’s keep it that way.”
Her comments quickly spread across the sports world, adding another prominent voice to an issue that has increasingly become part of discussions across numerous professional leagues and international governing bodies.
Debate extends beyond tennis as governing bodies revisit eligibility rules
The WTA’s revised policy follows similar reviews by several international sports organizations in recent years.
Governing bodies across swimming, cycling, athletics and rugby have all introduced or revised eligibility rules after examining scientific research regarding the effects of male puberty on athletic performance.
Supporters of sex-based eligibility rules argue that physiological differences, including muscle mass, bone structure, cardiovascular capacity and strength developed during male puberty, can provide lasting competitive advantages even after hormone therapy.
Others contend that policies should balance competitive fairness with inclusion and the rights of transgender athletes.
Sabalenka is not the first major tennis figure to express support for maintaining female-only competition based on biological sex.
Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova has also repeatedly argued that the women’s category should remain reserved for biological females while distinguishing that position from broader discussions about transgender rights.
The issue has also become increasingly visible in other professional sports.
Last month, Cunningham attracted national attention after discussing transgender participation in women’s basketball during an interview with ESPN.
“I think that I am here to extend love,” Cunningham said. “But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Her remarks prompted a range of responses from fellow WNBA players, coaches and fans, highlighting how divisive the topic has become within professional sports.
Sabalenka’s comments, however, were focused specifically on the WTA’s recently adopted policy and its application to professional tennis.
As the top-ranked player in the world, her support carries significant weight within the sport. While it remains to be seen whether additional players will publicly comment on the new eligibility standards, Sabalenka made clear she believes the governing body reached the correct conclusion.
By endorsing both the policy and its testing procedures, she signaled confidence that the WTA’s objective is preserving competitive fairness within the women’s game.
With governing bodies across multiple sports continuing to review eligibility regulations, discussions surrounding fairness, inclusion and participation are likely to remain prominent throughout the coming seasons.
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