Cd2+ has been associated with decreased sperm motility in individuals exposed to this element, such as smokers. Among other factors, this lowered motility could be the result of inhibition exerted by Cd2+ on the activity of the sperm ATPases associated with sperm motility. In this study, we evaluated the plasma membrane Ca2+‐ATPase and the axonemal dynein‐ATPase activities as well as sperm motility, in the presence of different free Cd2+ concentrations in the assay media. It was found that spermatozoa incubated for 5 h in a medium containing 25 nm free Cd2+ showed a significant inhibition of progressive motility, reaching values even lower at higher Cd2+ concentrations. In addition, it was found that the activity of the plasma membrane Ca2+‐ATPase reached maximal inhibition at 50 nm free Cd2+, with a K50% inhibition of 18.3 nm free Cd2+. The dynein‐ATPase activity was maximally inhibited by 25 nm free Cd2+ in the assay medium, with a K50% inhibition of 11.3 nm Cd2+. Our results indicate that the decreased activity of the sperm ATPases might have a critical importance in the biochemical mechanisms underlying the decreased sperm motility of individuals exposed to Cd2+.