Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a transgender darts player, has been banned from competing in all women-only events organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) following a ruling by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA). The DRA stated that only biological females are now eligible to participate in women's tournaments, effective immediately.
Van Leuven, who has won six titles in the PDC Women's Series, will also be unable to compete in the Women's World Matchplay, for which she was on course to qualify. The DRA commissioned a report from Dr Emma Hilton, an academic developmental biologist, which concluded that darts is a 'gender-affected sport' and that 'multiple physical differences' provide males with an advantage over female players.
The report cited factors such as greater height, longer limbs, broader shoulders, more muscle mass, and stiffer tendons as enhancing reach, stability, and throwing mechanics. The DRA said the decision was made to 'achieve fair competition in darts'. This follows a similar move by the International Olympic Committee last month, which banned transgender women from the female category of events starting with the 2028 Olympic Games.
Van Leuven responded on Instagram, stating she had been 'retired' by the decision. 'I just got an email... Apparently, I just got retired, not by choice, but because I am no longer allowed to compete,' she wrote. She expressed frustration, saying, 'I have worked so damn hard for years just to get here... Now, with just one decision, I am being told I no longer belong.' Van Leuven can still compete on the PDC's professional tour, which is open to all players.
