In a long-awaited decision, the Lawn Tennis Association has banned transgender women from competing in female events at British ‘inter-club’ tennis and padel competitions.
From 25 January, transgender women who were recorded male at birth will not be eligible to compete in female events in what are known as ‘Specified’ LTA competitions. These are usually those which are ‘inter’ venue, i.e. involving individuals from different clubs or counties (Graded 1-6).
The new ruling does not, however, apply to ‘non-specified’ competitions which involve players from within one venue, such as a club championships or weekend social tournaments (i.e. everything below Grade 6). It also doesn’t include FIP events played in the UK or any other tour or competition outside the LTA’s jurisdiction.
An LTA statement said: “As the national governing body for tennis and padel, the LTA has had to balance two potentially conflicting responsibilities. There is responsibility to ensure competition in our sport is fair and a responsibility to make sure tennis is welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
“In order to do this we have considered the evidence available, in particular taking into account work carried out by the Sports Councils Equality Group, as well as listening to those who are directly affected.
“The policy attempts to balance these two responsibilities appropriately but in the knowledge that different people will reasonably have different views as to where that balance should lie.
“It is clear that tennis and padel are gender-affected sports – the average man has an advantage when playing against the average woman. This includes longer levers with which to reach and hit the ball and increased cardio-vascular capacity means being able to get around the court more easily.
“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.”
In British domestic padel, the issue of transgender women players competing in female competitions has come to prominence on several occasions. Bertie Jenner’s entry into an LTA Grade One tournament at Rocks Lane in London in July caused a stir, with the father of one of her opponents, then-14-year-old Rosie Quirk, labelling it “cheating” on right-wing news station Talk TV.
After learning of Wednesday’s LTA policy update, Jenner posted a lengthy video on Instagram in which she said she had been “dehumanised and had various elements of dignity stripped” in various experiences whilst competing in female tournaments.
She said: “I know none of this is personal, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel personal and it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. I like to think I’m a fair and open person and I try to do the right thing by people, and I don’t always feel that’s reciprocated and it’s definitely not been reciprocated by the LTA.
“I’ve been largely dehumanised and had various elements of dignity stripped. It’s been s**t. Every experience I’ve had directly with the LTA has been absolutely horrendous. I’ve been discriminated against at every single turn. It’s just tough.”
Whilst transgender women and non-binary people are now permitted to play in male draws in LTA competitions, Jenner told The Padel Paper: “This policy means any trans woman that’s not currently out is expected to choose between outing themselves as trans or not playing a sport they love. If a woman just randomly stops playing around now, you possibly know why.
“The LTA could easily have created an open category that includes everyone, with an additional women’s category. They’ve chosen to force trans women to open themselves to more prejudice and discrimination, just to participate.”
Jenner is yet to decide whether to play in a women’s competition at Rocket Padel Ilford (the club where she coaches) on 18 January – a week before the new regulations come into force. “Shall I just play it as a goodbye to womanhood?” she asked rhetorically.
The LTA first published its policy on this issue in 2019, but only with Wednesday’s update has it moved to draw a line on the specific competitions in which transgender and non-binary individuals can and cannot play.
The Women’s Tennis Association’s Gender Participation Policy, based on 2015 guidance, is currently under review. For now, the WTA permits transgender women to participate if they have declared their gender as female for a minimum of four years, have lowered testosterone levels and agree to testing procedures.
Athletics, cycling, rugby union and swimming have already banned transgender athletes from competing in elite women’s competitions. Rowing has ruled that only rowers who transitioned to another gender before puberty are eligible to compete as women. British Cycling also banned transgender athletes from female competitions, placing them in a new ‘Open’ category alongside men.
The LPGA Golf Tour recently decided that transgender women who have gone through male puberty will no longer be allowed to compete on leading golf tours. That followed the England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision last month that any player who has gone through male puberty will be ineligible from the top two tiers of the women’s game from 2025.
The LTA’s statement on Wednesday stated that grassroots (‘non-specified’) tennis and padel competitions would not come under the new regulations as their purpose is “primarily to provide fun, social competition to enable people to feel part of their local tennis community.”
It said: “These [competitions] will be able to be fully inclusive, and the choice will be for local venues to make. We want to encourage local venues to ensure that they are as inclusive as possible for trans and non-binary individuals, providing opportunities to compete in a friendly environment.”
The statement added: “We recognise the diversity of opinion around this matter and would like to assure the tennis community that the LTA will continue to listen to all views and keep the policy under review in response to emerging research and data, and further guidance from other relevant bodies.”
