Darts authority bars transgender women from tournaments

The Darts Regulation Authority has announced an immediate ban on transgender women competing in women’s darts competitions, following the conclusion of a review into its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy.

According to BBC Sport on Friday, the updated rules now state that only biological females are eligible to take part in women’s tournaments governed by the DRA.

The governing body explained that the decision came after a review process that began in 2025, with input from legal experts as well as scientific analysis.

The move reflects a growing trend among some sports organisations reassessing eligibility rules in women’s categories, particularly around issues of fairness and inclusion.

In its statement, the DRA emphasised that it “seeks to be inclusive” but concluded that changes were necessary to maintain 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.

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 got an email and apparently I just got retired, not by choice but because I am no longer allowed to compete,” she said in a video posted online. “The DRA just decided that trans women are no longer allowed in women’s events, which basically means I am out.”

The DRA said its position was supported by a commissioned report from Emma Hilton, which found that “multiple, small-magnitude sex differences accumulate to generate male advantage over females in darts.”

The policy shift reflects a broader trend across sport, with governing bodies increasingly revisiting eligibility rules for women’s competition.

The World Darts Federation introduced a similar ban last year, while the International Olympic Committee has announced plans to restrict transgender women from women’s events at the Olympic Games from 2028.

While some groups have welcomed the DRA’s move as a step toward ensuring fair competition, others argue it raises concerns about inclusion and the future of transgender athletes in professional sport.

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