New Policy Prohibits Transgender Females from Participating in Women's Darts Competitions

The governing body for darts, the Darts Regulation Authority, has introduced a new policy stating that only individuals assigned female at birth can compete in women's tournaments. This decision comes after a thorough review of their Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which included expert advice and consideration of recent court rulings. As a result, transgender players will no longer be eligible to participate in women's events but can still compete in open tournaments. The first transgender woman to play in the World Championships, 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 joining in 2022, stated that the decision has effectively ended her career in women's darts. The DRA has emphasized its commitment to inclusivity and will continue to monitor and review its policies in relation to transgender participation in sports.