DARTS GOVERNING AUTHORITY HAS BANNED TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING IN TOURNAMENTS.
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has introduced an immediate ban preventing transgender women from competing in women’s darts events, following a review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, the updated rules state that only biological females are eligible to participate in women’s tournaments governed by DRA regulations.
The organisation said the decision followed a policy review that began in 2025 and was informed by legal guidance and scientific analysis.
The DRA added that while it remains committed to inclusivity, it determined that the changes were necessary to ensure fairness in competition.
It added that “all players, irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex, and/or gender identity” are still welcome to compete in open events.
The move means transgender women will no longer be eligible for women’s-only tournaments but can continue playing in competitions that are not restricted by sex.
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The decision has had an immediate impact on players such as Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who in 2024 became the first transgender woman to compete in the PDC World Championship. Responding to the news, she said the ruling had effectively ended her career in women’s darts.
“I just received an email informing me that I have effectively been retired, not by my own decision, but because I am no longer permitted to compete,” she said in a video shared online. “The DRA has ruled that transgender women are no longer eligible for women’s events, which essentially ends my participation.”
The DRA said its stance was backed by a commissioned report from Emma Hilton, which concluded that “multiple, small-magnitude sex differences accumulate to generate male advantage over females in darts.”
The policy change reflects a wider trend in sport, as governing bodies continue to reassess eligibility rules for women’s competitions.
The World Darts Federation implemented a similar restriction last year, while the International Olympic Committee has indicated plans to limit transgender women’s participation in women’s events at the Olympic Games from 2028.
While some have welcomed the DRA’s decision as a move to preserve fair competition, others have raised concerns about inclusion and the implications for transgender athletes in professional sport.
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