TORONTO : Coco Gauff said she supports mandatory gene testing in women’s tennis to protect competitive fairness but warned the policy should not become a tool to target or stigmatise the transgender community.
Mandatory testing for the SRY gene, which is linked to male sex determination, has been approved for tennis players competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Similar eligibility screening is already in place in several Olympic sports, including athletics, boxing and skiing.
Speaking after her victory over Kayla Day at the Canadian Open on Wednesday, the world number one said she understood the rationale behind the policy but was concerned about its broader social impact.
“So, yes, I guess I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports,” Gauff said.
“But I also do not like the attack that it is creating. People who don’t really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community. So I’m not really a big fan of that either.”
The issue has generated debate across several sports in recent weeks, with athletes increasingly being asked about gender eligibility policies.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham told ESPN last month she believed the rules should “protect young girls in the locker room,” adding that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men” in competition.
Her comments prompted protests from some fans during road games in Portland, Chicago, Minnesota and Seattle.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve later discussed the issue with Cunningham before a game between the two teams, with both saying the conversation ended respectfully despite their differing perspectives.
“A lot of people hide behind screens and love that type of thing. She had stories about her point of view and I had stories about my point of view,” Cunningham said.
“We left with love and respect and I think that’s what it’s all about.”
Reeve said public discussion of the issue often misrepresented transgender athletes.
“It is not the case that we have ‘biological men’ in girls’ locker rooms,” Reeve said.
“The way it’s being phrased… the innuendo there is that somehow transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room.”
