Transgender Women Barred from Female Darts Competitions

The Darts Regulation Authority has introduced a new policy stating that only individuals assigned female at birth can participate in women's darts tournaments. This decision follows a thorough review of the authority's Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included a report from a developmental biologist and took into account extensive legal advice and recent court rulings in the UK. As a result, the DRA has replaced its previous policy with an Eligibility Policy and Rules for open and women's tournaments, effective from April 5, 2026. The new policy allows transgender players to continue competing in open tournaments but restricts them from participating in women's events. Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a prominent transgender darts player, has expressed her disappointment and frustration with 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 joining in 2022, criticized the DRA's decision, stating that it is 'another huge hit for the trans community' and emphasizing that transgender individuals just want to be able to compete and exist without facing discrimination.