Darts Player Barred From Women's Events Under New Biological Sex Policy

The Darts Regulation Authority enacted a new eligibility rule on April 9, 2026, restricting women's tournament competition to biological females. Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a 29-year-old transgender player from the Netherlands, said she will continue fighting the ban after being excluded from PDC Women's Series events where she had competed since 2024.

Van Leuven announced the policy change through an Instagram video on Thursday, stating she had been effectively retired from women's competition without her consent. "I've worked so damn hard for years just to get here," she said in the video. "And now, with just one decision, I'm being told I don't belong anymore."

The DRA began reviewing its eligibility policies in 2025, commissioning research from an academic developmental biologist and consulting legal advisors before implementing the rule. The authority stated in a written statement that it determined "only biological females should be eligible to compete in women's tournaments regulated by DRA Rules" to ensure fair competition.

Van Leuven made history in 2024 as the first transgender woman to compete at the PDC World Darts Championship. She remains eligible for open PDC events that do not restrict entry by gender. In her video statement, she indicated further action: "This isn't the end. I'm just going back to the drawing board. I'm not done fighting."

Reactions on social media included support from LGBTQ+ advocates and darts fans who questioned the timing and scope of the policy. Van Leuven wrote alongside her video that the decision represented "another huge hit for the trans community" beyond her individual situation.

Context

Eligibility debates in sports have intensified globally over the past three years. International swimming's governing body banned transgender women from competing in female categories in June 2022, citing fairness concerns. The International Olympic Committee issued framework guidance in November 2023 allowing individual sports federations to set their own transgender athlete policies rather than enforcing a universal standard.

The darts governing body's decision follows similar moves across competitive sports. Rugby Union World governing bodies implemented transgender player restrictions in 2020. Track and field's World Athletics organization adopted testosterone-level thresholds for female competitors in 2018, affecting both transgender and cisgender athletes with elevated natural testosterone levels.

What's Next

Van Leuven has not disclosed specific legal strategies, but her statement signals she may pursue challenges through Dutch or international sports arbitration channels. The DRA's reliance on biological sex criteria—rather than hormone levels or other performance-based measures used by some sports bodies—may face scrutiny if contested through formal dispute resolution.

The policy's impact extends beyond van Leuven. Other transgender players competing in PDC women's events may face similar exclusions, potentially prompting broader discussion within professional darts about inclusion standards. The DRA has not announced whether it will modify open event structures or create additional competitive categories.