Transgender Women Barred from Competing in Female Darts Tournaments

The governing body for darts, the Darts Regulation Authority, has introduced a new policy stating that only individuals assigned female at birth are eligible to participate in women's competitions. This decision follows a comprehensive review of the organization's Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included expert analysis and consideration of recent court rulings. As a result, the DRA has replaced its existing policy with an Eligibility Policy and Rules for open and women's tournaments, effective April 5, 2026. The new policy allows transgender players to continue competing in open tournaments, but they are no longer permitted to participate 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 has won several titles on the women's tour since joining in 2022 and has qualified for the World Darts Championship. The DRA has stated that it will continue to monitor developments related to transgender participation in sports and review its Eligibility Policy annually. The decision has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it is discriminatory and others claiming that it is necessary to maintain fair competition in the sport.