The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has announced only players assigned female at birth will be eligible to compete in women’s tournaments.
Following a review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy – which included commissioning a report by an academic developmental biologist and after considering “extensive legal advice” and recent UK court rulings – the DRA says that it is “satisfied that to achieve fair competition in darts, only biological females should be eligible to compete in women’s tournaments regulated by DRA Rules”, which includes the PDC Women’s Series.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the first transgender woman to play at the World Championships in 2024, heavily criticised the decision, describing it as “another huge hit for the trans community”.
The 29-year-old has won six titles on the women’s tour since joining in 2022. Transgender players will be able to continue competing in open tournaments.
In its statement, the DRA added: “Accordingly, effective from April 5 2026, the DRA has replaced its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy with an Eligibility Policy and Rules for open and women’s tournaments, which will now be in operation across affiliated organisations, including the PDC.
“The DRA has consulted with the PDC and PDPA in developing this new Policy and Rules.
“The DRA seeks to be inclusive and all players – irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex, and/or gender identity – may compete in open tournaments and are encouraged to do so.
“The DRA will continue to monitor developments in relation to transgender participation in sport and will review the Eligibility Policy in light of these and at least annually.”
In a report that the DRA commissioned in 2025 as part of the review into its previous policy, Dr Emma Hilton determined that “darts is a ‘gender-affected sport’ within Section 195 of the Equality Act (2010)”.
“This report has identified multiple physical differences that, in my opinion, contribute to superior scoring among male darts players,” she wrote.
“I do not consider that any individual sex difference is overwhelming in magnitude and therefore deterministic for performance. Rather, multiple, small magnitude sex differences accumulate to generate male advantage over females in darts.”
‘Apparently I just got retired’ – Van Leuven’s dismay at ruling
Van Leuven, 29, who has qualified for the last two editions of the World Darts Championship through the PDC Women’s Series and was a semi-finalist at the 2025 Women’s World Matchplay, expressed her dismay at the change of policy in a video on Instagram.
“I just got an email. Apparently I just got retired,” said Van Leuven.
“Not by choice, but because I’m no longer allowed to compete.
“The DRA just decided that trans women are no longer allowed in women’s events, which basically means I’m out.
“I’ve worked so damn hard for years just to get here. I showed up, I competed, I respected the sport every game, every single day, and now with just one decision I’m being told I don’t belong anymore.
“This isn’t just about me. This is another huge hit for the trans community, especially after recent decisions made by the IOC [International Olympic Committee].
“Every day it’s getting harder and harder for trans people just to exist, to compete. If you think this stops with me, it doesn’t. We just want to be.”
