Transgender women will no longer be allowed to play in some female domestic tennis and padel tournaments in Britain, in changes to the Lawn Tennis Association’s rules.
The LTA is updating its transgender and non-binary participation policy, but this will not affect entry into Wimbledon or ITF, WTA or ATP tournaments staged in the UK.
The policy applies solely to British domestic inter-club competitions. The rules for tour events will continue to be set by the relevant governing body.
From 25 January, transgender women, who were recorded male at birth, will not be eligible to compete in female events in higher graded competitions, which usually involve individuals taking on players from another club or county.
The rules do not extend to events taking place between players from just one venue – such as a club championship or a weekend social tournament. Venues will still be able to decide their own policy in these circumstances.
In updating the policy, the LTA says it has had to balance “two potentially conflicting responsibilities: the need to ensure “competition in our sport is fair and a responsibility to make sure tennis is welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
It also says it appreciates the “diversity of opinion around this matter” and will keep the policy under review in the years ahead.
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