The body that governs many adult and junior tennis competitions in Great Britain issued a new policy this week that will bar transgender women and many nonbinary people from participating in various domestic tennis tournaments.
The Lawn Tennis Association announced on Monday that it had updated its guidelines following a review of its policies on transgender and nonbinary participation, which apply only to domestic British competitions overseen by the LTA.
The organization governs all levels of lawn tennis in Great Britain but does not administer Wimbledon or several other international tennis events that are held in the United Kingdom but organized by separate bodies like the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women's Tennis Association.
"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 cardiovascular capacity means being able to get around the court more easily," the LTA said in the announcement.
"We want to encourage local venues to ensure that they are as inclusive as possible for trans and nonbinary individuals, providing opportunities to compete in a friendly environment," the LTA said.