The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) announced that transgender women will be prohibited from competing in the female category across most domestic tennis competitions starting January 25, 2025.
Under the new policy, transgender women and non-binary individuals who were assigned male at birth will only be permitted to participate in the male category in Specified competitions, which include leagues and tournaments from national championships down to local level events.
Individual venues will retain autonomy over their policies for club championships and social tournaments, which have been classified as Non-specified competitions.
The ruling will not affect international events such as Wimbledon or competitions organized by ATP, WTA, or the International Tennis Federation, as these fall outside the LTA’s jurisdiction. Currently, trans women can compete in WTA and ITF events if they meet specific testosterone level requirements.
The LTA cited physiological advantages associated with male biology, including longer levers and increased cardiovascular capacity, as key factors in their decision.
In an official statement, the LTA explained: “It is clear that tennis and padel are gender-affected sports – the average man has an advantage when playing against the average woman. The current broad consensus, including the conclusion of the review carried out by the Sports Councils Equality Group, is that this advantage is likely to be retained to a significant degree in trans women, making competition potentially unfair.”
The policy change follows an 18-month consultation process involving affected groups and other sports organizations. The LTA has committed to reviewing the policy in the future.
Tennis coach Judy Murray supported the decision, stating: “I’m all for inclusivity in sport, but we’ve always had categories for a reason: to make it fair and to keep it safe…When children reach puberty, the boys begin to pull away from the girls hugely because they obviously become bigger, stronger and faster.”
