Noa-Lynn Van Leuven Vows to Continue Fighting After Transgender Women Ban in Darts

Darts player Noa-Lynn Van Leuven has expressed her determination to keep fighting after being banned from competing in women's tournaments. The 29-year-old, who has won six titles on the women's tour, made history as the first transgender woman to play at the World Darts Championship in 2024. Despite being allowed to continue competing in open tournaments, Van Leuven has voiced her disappointment at the decision, stating that it's not just about her, but also a significant setback for the trans community. The Darts Regulation Authority cited a review of its policies and a report from an academic developmental biologist as the basis for its ruling, which aims to achieve fair competition in darts by only allowing biological females to compete in women's tournaments. Van Leuven, also known as 'The Duchess', has received support from fellow players, including Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries, who have acknowledged her skills as a dart player and expressed sympathy for the abuse she has faced online. Van Leuven has vowed to continue fighting, saying 'This isn't the end. I'm just going back to the drawing board. I'm not done fighting.'