Transgender Women Barred from Female Darts Competitions

The Darts Regulation Authority has introduced a new eligibility policy, stating that only individuals assigned female at birth can compete in women's darts tournaments. This decision follows a review of the authority's Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included a report from a developmental biologist and considered recent UK court rulings. The policy change has been met with criticism from Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a transgender woman who has won six titles on the women's tour since 2022. Van Leuven described the decision as 'another huge hit for the trans community.' Although transgender players are no longer eligible for women's tournaments, they can still participate in open competitions. The Darts Regulation Authority aims to be inclusive and will review its Eligibility Policy annually, considering developments in transgender participation in sports. The decision is based on a report by Dr. Emma Hilton, which found that darts is a 'gender-affected sport' with physical differences contributing to superior scoring among male players. Van Leuven expressed her disappointment and frustration with the policy change, stating that it not only affects her but also the broader trans community, making it increasingly difficult for them to compete and exist.