The Women’s Tennis Association has changed its eligibility policy and will require athletes to submit to a one-time genetic gender test to establish eligibility, the organization revealed early this week.

In a Reuters report detailing the specifics of the new requirements, players will be required to be tested for the SRY gene, which helps determine biological sex. The test can be administered via cheek swab or blood test.

“Player screening will begin in 2026, following all appropriate confidentiality and data privacy safeguards and concurrent with a comprehensive player engagement program,” a WTA spokesperson told Reuters. “The WTA recognizes that this is a sensitive and complex issue and is committed to treating all players with dignity and implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful way.”

Previous policy allowed transgender women the ability to compete if their testosterone level was lowered past a specific threshold for more than two years prior to participation, though no known transgender women are currently active in professional tennis.

The International Olympic Committee adopted a similar policy involving a one-time test earlier this spring. Other sports organizations to adopt the testing have included the World Athletics federation and World Boxing federation.

Current and former pros have voiced their support and opposition to such testing, with critics arguing that it is discriminatory.

Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion and gay rights proponent, has spoken in opposition to the inclusion of transgender athletes, as has current world No. 1 player Aryna Sabalenka.

Yet Billie Jean King, famous for once winning the “battle of the sexes” in 1973, has described exclusion of transgender athletes as discrimination.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen in a trade with the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

The Rockies received a pair of minor leaguers in right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek.

Halvorsen, 26, is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Rockies this season. In three major league seasons with Colorado, he is 3-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 75 relief appearances.

After just spending time on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation, Halvorsen made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and pitched a scoreless inning. Los Angeles is expected to send Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Frasso, 27, was 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 appearances (one start) with Oklahoma City this season, while Vidourek, 22, was batting .170 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 59 games at Single-A Ontario.

Also on Monday, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Kyle Hurt to Oklahoma City. Hurt was the additional 27th man on the roster for the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees and pitched two scoreless innings.

–Field Level Media

Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. left Kansas City’s game against the San Francisco Giants after four innings Monday due to low back tightness.

Witt, who has dealt with back issues of late, returned to the lineup Monday after he was given the day off Sunday against the San Diego Padres. He went 0-for-1 with a walk before exiting the contest.

Nick Loftin replaced Witt at shortstop.

An All-Star for each of the past three seasons, including the starting shortstop for the American League in last week’s Midsummer Classic, Witt is batting .279 in 94 games with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and an AL-high 30 stolen bases. He has been durable since reaching the majors in 2022, playing at least 150 games in every season.

Meanwhile, San Francisco starting pitcher Trevor McDonald came out for the bottom of the fifth, but never threw a pitch in the inning as he exited with a trainer. His injury was not yet known. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three on 67 pitches.

–Field Level Media