Coco Gauff opens up on ‘nuanced’ WTA gene testing as transgender athlete debate heightens

Coco Gauff cited what she views as a positive and a drawback to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) instituting a one-time gene test for players last month, calling the discussion “nuanced.”

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Players receive testing for the SRY gene, which is typically found on a Y chromosome “that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes,” per the Associated Press.

“I understand the reasoning behind it. I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of, but I also understand the need to, I guess, the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that,” Gauff said Wednesday during a press conference at the National Bank Open in Toronto. “So I think it’s a conversation that is very nuanced. And it creates, causes, or I need to have a nuanced answer. So, yes, I guess I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports.

“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. So, I don’t really know how to answer really this question in a way that people aren’t going to spin it. But as far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too.”

Gauff’s response came after World No. 1 Aryna Sabalneka voiced her support for the testing, which went into place July 21.

its goal is to “to preserve the integrity of women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions for all players participating in WTA Tournaments.”

The ruling is synced with the policy instituted for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles that bans transgender athletes

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“I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,” Sabalenka said earlier this week at the same tournament. “It’s obviously, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would be not really fair for the woman to compete against biological man.

“I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and, yeah, 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.”

The topic of transgenders athletes competing in sport has been heightened over the past week due to comments made by WNBA star Sophie Cunningham.

Her remarks have led to rallies being held in road cities in support of her views, while opposing fans have resoundingly booed her.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham told ESPN in an article published last month from comments she made earlier in the year.“I think that I am here to extend love. 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.”

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