Darts authority bans transgender women from tournaments

The Darts Regulation Authority has banned transgender women from competing in women’s darts events, effective immediately. This decision follows a review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, which began in 2025. According to BBC Sport, the updated rules state that “only biological females should be eligible to compete in women’s tournaments regulated by DRA Rules.” The DRA emphasized its aim to be inclusive but concluded changes were necessary for fair competition. All players, regardless of biological sex, legal sex, or gender identity, are still welcome in open events. This impacts players like Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who in 2024 became the first transgender woman to compete in the PDC World Championship. She stated the ruling effectively ended her career in women’s darts. The DRA cited a commissioned report by Emma Hilton, which found “multiple, small-magnitude sex differences accumulate to generate male advantage over females in darts.” This policy shift aligns with a broader trend in sports, with the World Darts Federation implementing a similar ban last year and the International Olympic Committee planning restrictions from 2028.