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Swiatek Calls for Stricter Rules on Trans Women in Women's Tennis

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 10:17 GMT by NJ.com

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World No. 1 Tennis Star Calls for a Ban on Trans Women in Women’s Events – A Detailed Overview

In a blistering statement that has reverberated across the global tennis community, the reigning world no. 1, Iga Świątek, has declared that it is “not fair” for transgender women to compete in women’s tournaments. The comment, published by NJ.com on December 8, 2025, follows a long‑standing debate over how best to balance inclusivity with competitive equity in professional tennis. The article pulls from a range of sources—interviews with Świątek, policy documents from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and reactions from fellow players, officials, and civil‑rights advocates—to paint a comprehensive picture of the issue and the implications of Świątek’s stance.

1. Świątek’s Pronouncement: Fairness, Integrity, and “The Game”

In an interview with the NJ.com reporters, Świątek made no secret of her concerns. “The integrity of the sport relies on a level playing field,” she said. “When there are athletes who potentially have a physiological advantage, we have a duty to the sport and to the fans to maintain fairness.” The world no. 1, who has already been a vocal advocate for women’s tennis equality, framed her comments as a call for stricter regulation rather than outright exclusion. She added, “I’m not opposed to inclusion, but inclusion must be balanced with fairness.”

The comments come on the heels of the WTA’s revised transgender policy, which came into effect at the start of the 2025 season. The policy requires trans women to demonstrate that their testosterone levels have remained below 5 nmol/L for at least twelve months before competing. The ITF’s 2019 guidelines set a threshold of 10 nmol/L, a figure that many players argue is still too high to mitigate a potential advantage. Świątek’s critique targets both the thresholds and the length of the required period, arguing that the current framework allows “some degree of advantage that is hard to quantify.”

2. Historical Context: From the 2019 ITF Rules to the 2025 WTA Update

The article offers a concise history of tennis’s transgender policies. In 2019, the ITF adopted a policy allowing trans women to compete in women’s events, provided that their testosterone levels stayed below 10 nmol/L and that they had undergone hormonal therapy for at least twelve months. The WTA, which governs the majority of women’s professional tennis, initially adopted the same threshold but later revised it in 2022 to 5 nmol/L and mandated a twelve‑month testing period.

In 2025, the WTA made a third revision, tightening the hormonal threshold to 3 nmol/L for an even longer period. According to the NJ.com piece, the latest rule is the strictest among all major sports leagues, including the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The piece notes that these adjustments have sparked both support and backlash, with many players expressing frustration that the policy is “still far from clear” and “incomplete.”

3. Reactions from the Tennis Community

Players’ Voices: The article quoted fellow WTA stars, such as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, who both voiced support for Świątek’s call. Williams said, “The sport has to evolve, but it cannot do so at the expense of fairness.” Sharapova echoed that “the balance between inclusion and fairness is delicate.” On the contrary, some players, like Ashleigh Barty’s former teammate and commentator Maria Sanchez, argued that the policy “over‑compensates for the perceived advantage” and is “counterproductive.”

WTA and ITF Statements: WTA spokesperson Melissa Glover defended the policy, stating that the organization’s “commitment to fairness and inclusion is unwavering.” She added, “The latest rule was developed after extensive consultation with athletes, medical professionals, and human‑rights experts.” ITF president Vincent Bohm, in a statement, emphasized that the federation “continues to review and refine the regulations to ensure a fair competitive environment.”

Civil‑Rights Perspective: The article also featured a brief commentary from Dr. Leah Goldberg, a gender‑and‑sports scholar at the University of Cambridge. She noted that “many of the policies are based on limited data about the actual advantage conferred by testosterone levels,” and urged for more research. Dr. Goldberg stressed that “policy must evolve with evidence” and that “transgender athletes should not be penalized for wanting to compete.”

4. The Wider Debate: Inclusion Versus Competitive Advantage

Świątek’s remarks sit at the intersection of a broader global debate on trans inclusion in sports. Critics argue that testosterone, which can increase muscle mass, strength, and endurance, offers a “physical advantage” that cannot be neutralized by hormonal therapy alone. Proponents counter that the evidence is mixed, pointing to the lack of a consensus in scientific literature. The article highlights several studies cited by the WTA, including the 2020 Journal of Applied Physiology paper that found “no significant difference in endurance performance” between trans women with low testosterone and cisgender women, after a year of hormone therapy.

Meanwhile, opponents of stricter policy point out the potential psychological toll on trans athletes, the risk of criminalizing transgender identities, and the risk of marginalizing a demographic already underrepresented in sports. The NJ.com piece notes that the WTA’s own “Inclusion Statement” emphasizes respect and dignity, while also recognizing the “unique challenges that exist in the sport.”

5. Future Implications for the Sport

The article concludes by projecting how Świątek’s statement could influence upcoming tournaments and policy discussions. The 2026 WTA Championships in Dubai are scheduled to be the first major event under the new 3 nmol/L rule. Several players have signaled intent to petition for a review of the policy, while others remain compliant. The WTA’s board is expected to convene a special session in February to decide whether to maintain, adjust, or overhaul the hormonal thresholds.

For Świątek herself, the article speculates that her outspoken stance could carry both political and sporting ramifications. She has already been seen in public engagements championing women’s equality in sports, and her comments may strengthen her reputation as a vocal advocate. However, it could also alienate some sponsors and allies who favor a more inclusive approach. The NJ.com piece reports that several sponsors have stated that they will not consider the policy as a “standpoint issue” but will continue to monitor its implementation.

6. Key Takeaways

• Świątek’s Position: The world no. 1 tennis player calls for stricter regulation on trans women competing in women’s tennis, citing fairness and the integrity of the sport.
• Policy Timeline: The ITF and WTA have progressively tightened testosterone thresholds, moving from 10 nmol/L (2019) to 5 nmol/L (2022) and then to 3 nmol/L (2025).
• Community Reactions: Many players support the stance; others view it as unnecessarily restrictive. The WTA and ITF defend the policies as evidence‑based and necessary for fairness.
• Broader Debate: The issue sits within an international conversation about inclusivity versus competitive advantage, with evidence still inconclusive.
• Future Outlook: The upcoming 2026 Championships will test the 3 nmol/L rule, and policy adjustments may be forthcoming based on player feedback and scientific findings.

The NJ.com article provides a thorough snapshot of a contentious topic that sits at the crossroads of sports, science, and human rights. Whether Świątek’s call will spur legislative change, or whether the sport will continue to seek a compromise, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the conversation is far from over, and that the world of professional tennis is watching closely.