Last week, there was a whole lotta buzz about tennis player Sarah Gronert. She was born with ambiguous genitalia, and at age 19 had surgery that removed the ambiguity. Her intersex status caused a hubbub when Gronert won a few minor-league tournaments recently.
To be able to compete in either the minor or major league of women’s tennis, the ITF and the WTA respectively, Gronert had to be medically evaluated to see if she is eligible compete on the women’s tours. And, now, a WTA spokesperson has announced, “Sarah Gronert is legally and biologically a woman, and as such perfectly entitled to compete in ITF Pro Circuit events and, at some point if her ranking warrants it, in WTA Tour events.”
“The Tour’s gender determination rule is similar to the International Olympic Committee’s rule, and under this rule, Gronert is allowed to play Tour events as a female,” a spokesman said.
“The Tour’s medical delegate reviewed Miss Gronert’s case and determined that she is eligible to compete on the Tour.
“The medical delegate determined that sufficient independent and verifiable evidence existed to conclude that Miss Gronert had satisfied all of the requirements of the tour rules in order to be eligible to participate in tour events.”
Understandably, the details of the case, such as the player’s medical records, will remain strictly confidential.
Done and done. And good luck, Sarah!
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