The measure will be implemented from January 2025 and seeks to balance inclusion with competitive equity.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the entity that regulates tennis in the United Kingdom, announced this Wednesday that the Trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth will not be able to compete in the women’s category of many domestic tennis tournaments in that country, starting in January 2025.
The new policy was issued by the LTA with the aim of finding a balance between competitive equity and inclusion.
Exclusions and limitations of politics in tennis
It is important to highlight that the measure applies exclusively to domestic tennis and padel tournamentsbut it does not affect international competitions or events such as Wimbledon, or ATP and WTA tournaments, since these are not under the jurisdiction of the LTA.
Therefore, high-profile events, such as the famous Wimbledon tournament, will not be subject to these regulations.
The LTA is justified by the physical advantages of trans women
The LTA explained that, since tennis and padel are sports “affected by gender”, There are physical advantages for men when competing against women.
These advantages, he noted, include a greater wingspan to reach and hit the ball, as well as a greater cardiovascular capacity which makes it easier to move around the court.
In its statement, the LTA said there is a general consensus that these advantages “are likely to remain for transgender women, which could make the competition potentially unfair.”
Policy implementation at national and local level
The policy will go into effect on January 25 and will apply to leagues and tournaments involving players from different clubs and venuesfrom national championships to local level ones.
However, events organized exclusively by a venue, such as club championships and social tournaments, will be able to set their own policy, as the purpose of these events is to provide social and friendly competition, allowing people to feel part of their community. tennis venue.
Promoting inclusion at the local level
The LTA also expressed its desire to encourage inclusion at the local levelencouraging clubs to ensure they are as inclusive as possible for trans and non-binary people, giving them opportunities to compete in a friendly environment.
