Transgender Women Barred from Participating in Female Darts Competitions

The Darts Regulation Authority has introduced a new policy stating that only athletes assigned female at birth can compete in women's darts tournaments. This decision comes after a thorough review of the Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included expert advice from a developmental biologist and consideration of recent UK court rulings. As a result, the DRA has replaced its previous policy with an Eligibility Policy and Rules for open and women's tournaments, effective April 5, 2026. Transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who has won six titles on the women's tour, expressed disappointment with the decision, describing it as a significant setback for the trans community. Despite this, transgender players will still be allowed to participate in open tournaments. The DRA aims to be inclusive and will continue to monitor developments in transgender participation in sports, reviewing its Eligibility Policy annually.