--- title: "Sabalenka backs WTA genetic screening for transgender athletes" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes" category: "Media" published: "2026-08-04T22:25:20.735Z" source_reported: "2026-08-04T19:25:39.000Z" updated: "2026-08-04T22:25:20.735Z" trust_score: 30 critic_score: 45 hype_score: 65 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-06T18:36:46.890Z" --- # Sabalenka backs WTA genetic screening for transgender athletes *World number one tennis player supports new eligibility rules requiring genetic testing for competitors* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 30 of 100, higher is better. No named sources or documents cited in either digest. - Craft 45 of 100, higher is better. No quotes, figures, or clear separation of fact from comment. - Hype 65 of 100, lower is better. Headlines overstate social media reaction not substantiated in digests. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Aryna Sabalenka publicly supported the WTA’s new transgender eligibility policy, which includes genetic screening for athletes. - Her comments were made during a press conference at the Canadian Open in Montreal on 29 July 2024. - Right-rated outlets led on Sabalenka’s statement, while no left- or centre-rated reports on the story were published. - Social media reactions to Sabalenka’s remarks were noted in coverage, but no direct quotes from those responses were included in the digests. Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, expressed support for the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) transgender eligibility policy during a press conference at the Canadian Open in Montreal. The policy, which includes a requirement for genetic screening, was introduced earlier this year. Sabalenka’s remarks were made in response to a question about the rules, as reported in digests of coverage from Fox News and an unrated outlet. The WTA’s policy mandates that athletes competing in women’s events must meet specific criteria, including genetic testing to determine eligibility. Sabalenka, a Belarusian player, stated her position during the press conference on 29 July 2024. The digests did not include a direct quote from her statement, but both confirmed her support for the policy. Reactions on social media were noted in the coverage, though the digests did not specify which platforms or accounts were involved. The focus of the right-rated digest was Sabalenka’s endorsement of the policy, while the unrated digest framed the story around broader social media discourse, including unrelated comments by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines. ## What the coverage left out No left- or centre-rated outlets ran this story, according to the digests provided. Neither of the two digests included a direct quote from Sabalenka’s press conference statement or detailed the WTA’s genetic screening criteria. The unrated digest conflated Sabalenka’s comments with unrelated remarks by Riley Gaines, obscuring the focus on the WTA policy. ## Who covered it Shares of the 33 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 15% (5) - Centre: 18% (6) - Right: 67% (22) 13 of 46 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-06T18:36:46.890Z. **Coverage watch:** closed. Checked 154 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-10T12:30:40.625Z. Watch closed 2026-08-10T12:30:40.625Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - The right-rated digest from Fox News led on Aryna Sabalenka’s support for the WTA’s transgender eligibility policy. It highlighted her status as the world’s number one women’s tennis player and noted that her comments were made during a press conference at the Canadian Open. The digest framed the story around the broader social media reaction to her remarks, though it did not include specific examples of those reactions. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 4 - mixed: 13 - high: 11 - unknown: 15 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Politics, Policy, Political News](https://politicom.com.au/world-no-1-tennis-champion-aryna-sabalenka-drops-the-hammer-on-woke-trans-agenda-in-womens-sports) — World No. 1 Tennis Champion Aryna Sabalenka DROPS THE HAMMER on Woke Trans Agenda in Women’s Sports - Politics, Policy, Political Views - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/world-no-1-tennis-champion-aryna-sabalenka-drops) — World No. 1 Tennis Champion Aryna Sabalenka DROPS THE HAMMER on Woke Trans Agenda in Women’s Sports * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hᴏft - [Heavy](https://heavy.com/sports/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-wta-gender-testing) — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Takes Firm Stance on WTA Gender Testing - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/sports/world-no-1-sabalenka-backs-wta-mandatory-genetic-sex-testing/4019199) — World No. 1 Sabalenka backs WTA mandatory genetic sex testing - [voz.us](https://voz.us/es/deportes/260805/38035/aryna-sabalenka-jugadoras-wta-pruebas-geneticas.html) — Sabalenka Supports that All Players in the WTA Ranking Undergo Genetic Testing - [Pink News](https://thepinknews.com/2026/08/05/world-tennis-no-1-aryna-sabalenka-backs-wtas-controversial-sex-testing-policy-biologically-men-are-stronger) — World tennis no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka backs WTA’s controversial sex testing policy - [ABS-CBN](https://abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/8/5/tennis-star-sabalenka-supports-sport-s-new-sex-test-policy-0953) — Tennis star Sabalenka supports sport's new sex test policy | ABS-CBN Sports - [Pro Football Network](https://profootballnetwork.com/wnba/female-tennis-player-sophie-cunningham-stance-trans-athletes-womens-sports) — ‘It’s Obvious’ – No. 1-Ranked Female Tennis Player Backs Sophie Cunningham’s Stance Against Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/sports/top-womens-tennis-player-supports-gene-testing-policy-that-will-bar-trans-women-from-competing) — Top Women’s Tennis Player Supports Gene Testing Policy That Will Bar Trans Women from Competing - [Just Jared](https://justjared.com/2026/08/04/aryna-sabalenka-confirms-she-supports-wtas-gender-policy-thinks-its-fair-to-undergo-biological-test) — Aryna Sabalenka Confirms She Supports WTA’s Gender Policy, Thinks It’s ‘Fair’ to Undergo Biological Test - [RAWCHILI](https://rawchili.com/5063868) — Aryna Sabalenka speaks out on tennis' new genetic testing policy - RAW CHILI - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/social-media-reacts-to-tennis-star-aryna-sabalenkas-comments-on-wta-transgender-rules) — Social media reacts to tennis star Aryna Sabalenka's comments on WTA transgender rules - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/04/sports/aryna-sabalenka-speaks-out-on-tennis-new-genetic-testing-policy) — Aryna Sabalenka speaks out on tennis’ new genetic testing policy as trans athlete debate rages - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/outkick-sports/social-media-reacts-tennis-star-aryna-sabalenka-comments-wta-transgender-rules) — Social media reacts to tennis star Aryna Sabalenka's comments on WTA transgender rules - [The Dallas Express News](https://dallasexpress.com/national/world-no-1-aryna-sabalenka-backs-wta-sex-test-men-are-way-stronger-than-women) — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Backs WTA Sex Test: ‘Men Are Way Stronger Than Women’ - [BroBible](https://brobible.com/sports/article/aryna-sabalenka-response-wta-testing-sophie-cunningham-debate) — Top Ranked Female Tennis Player Echoes Sophie Cunningham In Response On WTA Testing - [The Christian Post](https://christianpost.com/news/top-ranked-womens-tennis-star-defends-gender-test-for-players.html) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka defends push to keep men out of women's tennis - [The Province](https://theprovince.com/sports/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-sophie-cunningham-transgender-athlete-ban) — Aryna Sabalenka joins Sophie Cunningham, backs transgender athlete ban - [Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com/sports/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-sophie-cunningham-transgender-athlete-ban) — Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka joins Sophie Cunningham, supports banning transgender athletes - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/04/sabalenka-comments-on-womens-tour) — Sabalenka Comments On Women’s Tour - [Out Magazine](https://out.com/gay-athletes/aryna-sabalenka-sex-testing) — World's No. 1 woman tennis player supports genetic sex testing as 'fair' - [The Advocate](https://advocate.com/sports/aryna-sabalenka-sex-testing) — World's No. 1 woman tennis player supports genetic sex testing as 'fair' - [WRGB](https://cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/aryna-sabalenka-womens-tennis-association-number-1-player-wta-supports-leagues-test-to-determine-biological-sex-wnba-sophie-cunningham-transgender) — Top-ranked tennis player supports league's test to determine biological sex - [civildeadline.com](https://civildeadline.com/sabalenka-comments-on-womens-tour) — Sabalenka Comments On Women’s Tour - Civil Deadline - [The Comeback](https://thecomeback.com/wnba/biologically-men-are-way-stronger-aryna-sabalenka-breaks-silence-on-trans-athletes-amid-sophie-cunningham-controversy.html) — 'Biologically, men are way stronger': Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on trans athletes amid Sophie Cunningham controversy - [queer.de](https://queer.de/detail.php?article_id=59048) — Aryna Sabalenka Doesn't Want to Play Against Trans Women - [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/news/top-female-tennis-star-calls-for-gender-integrity-testing) — Top Female Tennis Star Calls for Gender Integrity Testing - [Deutsche Welle](https://dw.com/en/tennis-star-sabalenka-supports-sports-new-sex-test-policy/a-78228069) — Tennis star Sabalenka supports sport's new sex test policy - [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/08/04/sabalenka-test-genetici-wta-tennis-gli-uomini-sono-piu-forti-delle-donne/8469393) — Sabalenka and the New WTA Rules on Genetic Testing: "It's Right" - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/worlds-top-female-tennis-player-takes-stand-for-womens-sports) — World’s Top Female Tennis Player Takes Stand For Women’s Sports - [Sports.fr](https://sports.fr/tennis/wta-aryna-sabalenka-la-declaration-tranchee-1033766.html) — WTA: Aryna Sabalenka, the Statement Decided - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/sports/2026/08/04/worlds-top-ranked-female-tennis-player-supports-gene-testing-to-keep-men-out-of-womens-sports) — World's Top-Ranked Female Tennis Player Supports Gene Testing to Keep Men out of Women's Sports. - [RedState](https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/08/04/world-top-female-tennis-player-follows-sophies-lead-demands-testing-to-keep-men-out-of-her-sport-n2205152) — Another Top Female Athlete Follows Sophie’s Lead — Demands Testing to Keep Men Out of Her Sport - [Conservative Review](https://conservativereview.com/pressure-mounts-against-wnba-to-adopt-biological-women-only-policy-women-s-sports-are-for-women-2677651131.html) — Pressure mounts against WNBA to adopt 'biological women'-only policy: 'Women's sports are for women' - [The Blaze](https://theblaze.com/fearless/wnba-women-only-policy-pressure) — Pressure mounts against WNBA to adopt 'biological women'-only policy: 'Women's sports are for women' - [lejdd.fr](https://lejdd.fr/International/competitions-de-tennis-aryna-sabalenka-soutient-les-tests-de-determination-du-sexe-biologique-180444) — Tennis Competitions: Aryna Sabalenka Supports "Biological Sex" Determination Tests - [SPORTbible](https://sportbible.com/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-wta-transgender-policy-us-open-072070-20260803) — Aryna Sabalenka gives take on controversial WTA transgender policy before US Open - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/sports/tennis/story/aryna-sabalenka-wta-eligibility-policy-backs-genetic-test-rule-2962694-2026-08-03) — Yeah or Nah? Aryna Sabalenka reacts to eligibility tests for female tennis players - [FirstSportz](https://firstsportz.com/aryna-sabalenka-wta-policy-ban-trans-men-women) — Aryna Sabalenka Backs Controversial WTA Policy Banning Trans Players: "Men Are Much Stronger Than Women" - [Le Figaro](https://lefigaro.fr/sports/tennis/tennis-injuste-que-des-femmes-affrontent-des-hommes-biologiques-aryna-sabalenka-soutient-les-tests-de-genre-de-la-wta-20260803) — Tennis: "Injust that Women Face Biological Men", Aryna Sabalenka Supports WTA Gender Testing - [Daily Express](https://express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2235584/Aryna-Sabalenka-transgender-WTA-Tour) — Aryna Sabalenka backs transgender policy and says 'men are way stronger' - [NewsBytes](https://newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/aryna-sabalenka-supports-wta-transgender-policy/story) — 'Support it,' says Aryna Sabalenka on WTA's sex-testing rule - [GB News](https://gbnews.com/sport/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-transgender-tennis-rules) — Aryna Sabalenka wades into transgender row as tennis introduces new rules - [Sportskeeda](https://sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-after-speaking-transgender-athletes-women-s-sports-aryna-sabalenka-welcomes-wta-s-new-gender-testing-policy) — After speaking out against transgender athletes in women's sports, Aryna Sabalenka welcomes WTA's new gender-testing policy - [TennisUpToDate.com](https://tennisuptodate.com/wta/its-obvious-that-biologically-men-are-much-stronger-than-women-aryna-sabalenka-heavily-supports-gender-testing-policy-implemented-by-wta) — "It’s obvious that, biologically, men are much stronger than women": Aryna Sabalenka heavily supports gender testing policy implemented by WTA - [The Better India](https://thebetterindia.com/videos/lifestyle/love-beyond-gender-a-transgender-womans-journey-12222616) — Love Beyond Gender | A Transgender Woman's Journey ## Questions **What did Aryna Sabalenka say about the WTA’s transgender policy?** Sabalenka expressed support for the WTA’s new transgender eligibility policy, which includes genetic screening for athletes. Her comments were made during a press conference at the Canadian Open on 29 July 2024, as reported by right-rated and unrated outlets. **Which outlets covered Sabalenka’s comments?** Right-rated Fox News and an unrated outlet published digests of the story, focusing on Sabalenka’s support for the policy and social media reactions. No left- or centre-rated outlets ran the story, according to the material provided. **What does the WTA’s transgender policy require?** The WTA’s policy includes genetic screening for athletes to determine eligibility for women’s events. The digests did not provide details on the specific criteria or testing methods used in the policy. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Sabalenka backs WTA genetic screening for transgender athletes", https://mediabias.news/media/sabalenka-backs-wta-genetic-screening-for-transgender-athletes