Transgender Women Barred from Competing in Female Darts Tournaments

The Darts Regulation Authority has announced that only athletes assigned female at birth will be eligible to participate in women's darts tournaments, following a comprehensive review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy. This decision was made after consulting with an academic developmental biologist and considering extensive legal advice, as well as recent UK court rulings. As a result, the DRA has replaced its previous policy with a new Eligibility Policy and Rules, which will be effective across all affiliated organizations, including the PDC, starting from April 5, 2026. The policy change has been met with criticism from Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the first transgender woman to compete in the World Championships in 2024, who described the decision as 'another huge hit for the trans community.' Van Leuven, a 29-year-old who has won six titles on the women's tour since joining in 2022, expressed her disappointment and frustration with the decision in a video posted on Instagram. The DRA has stated that it aims to be inclusive and encourages all players, regardless of their biological sex, legal sex, or gender identity, to participate in open tournaments. The organization will continue to monitor developments related to transgender participation in sports and review its Eligibility Policy annually.