Trans 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 competitions. This decision follows a comprehensive review of the organization's policy on transgender and gender-diverse participants, which included expert input from a developmental biologist and consideration of recent UK court rulings. As a result, the DRA has introduced a new Eligibility Policy and Rules for open and women's tournaments, effective April 5, 2026. Transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has expressed strong criticism of the decision, describing it as a significant setback for the trans community. Van Leuven, who has won six titles on the women's tour since 2022, will no longer be allowed to compete in women's events but can still participate in open tournaments. The DRA has stated that it aims to promote inclusivity and will continue to monitor developments in transgender participation in sports, reviewing its Eligibility Policy annually or as needed.