Trans 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 darts competitions. This decision follows a comprehensive review of the organization's Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included expert input from a developmental biologist and consideration of recent UK court rulings. As a result, the DRA is convinced that restricting women's tournaments to biological females is necessary to ensure fair competition. Transgender athlete Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who has won six titles on the women's tour and competed in the World Championships, has strongly criticized the decision, calling it a significant setback for the trans community. Van Leuven will still be allowed to compete in open tournaments, but the new policy will be enforced across all affiliated organizations, including the PDC, starting from April 5, 2026. The DRA aims to be inclusive and welcomes all players to participate in open tournaments, regardless of their biological sex, legal sex, or gender identity. The organization will continue to monitor developments in transgender participation in sports and review its Eligibility Policy annually. A report commissioned by the DRA in 2025 found that darts is a 'gender-affected sport' and identified physical differences that contribute to superior scoring among male players. Van Leuven expressed her disappointment and frustration with the decision in a video on social media, stating that she has been forced into retirement and emphasizing that this decision affects not only her but the entire trans community.