LTA bans transgender women from playing in female tournaments

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has announced a new policy banning transgender women and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth from competing in the female category of most domestic tennis and padel competitions in the UK.

This policy, effective from 25 January 2025, applies to events involving players from multiple venues, such as national championships and inter-club tournaments.

However, single-venue events like club championships can set their own rules.

The LTA stated this decision was based on maintaining competitive fairness, citing physiological advantages such as greater cardiovascular capacity and reach typically retained by trans women, even after transitioning.

International competitions held in Britain, like Wimbledon and ATP/WTA tournaments, remain unaffected as they fall outside LTA's jurisdiction.

The LTA emphasised the importance of inclusivity, encouraging local venues to create friendly, non-competitive opportunities for all players. The policy follows an 18-month consultation process and will be reviewed regularly to account for new research and feedback.