A publication covering LGBT+ topics in sport has explained to Ubitennis why they used a photo of Linda Noskova for an Instagram post about the WTA’s decision to ban trans women from competing.
Earlier this week, recently crowned Wimbledon champion Noskova commented on Outsports’ social media post, ‘why am I here.’ The photo was of the Czech player with the line ‘WTA bans trans women from tennis Tour with mandatory testing.’ Recently, the WTA took an unprecedented step by adjusting their eligibility policy to make every player undergo a one-off sex test to prove they are female. The newly introduced procedure can be done via swab, blood or saliva testing.
Some commented on the social media post, believing it implies that Noskova might be trans, which is incorrect. One comment read, “Is Linda Noskova trans?’ That’s the exact question I asked Google, and the answer is no. Why would they use her pic in this headline?”
source – instagram.com/outsports
In an email sent to Ubitennis, Outsports co-founder Cyd Zeigler stated their post was about WTA’s players having to undergo these tests, and they use a photo of Noskova as she is part of the women’s Tour.
“The post was about every WTA player being forced to take these tests,” Zeigler explained.
“Unless Linda Noskova is claiming she’s no longer part of the WTA, she will be forced to take this test. That is why she’s “here.”
The exact test that those on the WTA Tour have to undergo screens for the SRY gene, which is typically found on the Y chromosome. If they test positive for it, players could be banned unless they can prove they are intersex or have other differences of sex development (DSD).
“The WTA’s women’s eligibility policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments,” the governing body explained earlier this week.
“Since first being introduced in 1975, the eligibility policy has undergone periodic review in light of developments across international sport.
“Following the most recent review, which included consultation with WTA members and evolving standards across women’s sport, the WTA board approved an updated WTA women’s eligibility policy beginning in 2026 based on biological sex.”
Other sports have also opted to use such testing in recent months, but some have questioned if it is a fair or complete way to define biological sex. It has also been argued that even if a test yields a positive result, it doesn’t explain how it affects that person and their athletic ability.
Furthermore, one of those who have questioned the use of SRY testing in sports is Professor Andrew Sinclair. He is the person who discovered the SRY gene on the human Y chromosome in 1990 and has studied it for decades.
There are currently no known transgender women competing on the WTA Tour.
