Darts Regulation Authority Bans Transgender Women from Female-Only Tournaments

The Darts Regulation Authority banned transgender women from women's darts tournaments on April 9, 2026, ruling that only biological females are eligible to compete in events governed by its regulations. The authority based its decision on a review by Dr. Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist at the University of Manchester, who concluded that darts qualifies as a "gender-affected sport" in which biological male traits confer a measurable competitive advantage. The Professional Darts Corporation adopted the new guidelines immediately after the DRA published its statement. The ruling effectively ends Dutch player Noa-Lynn van Leuven's participation in women's events, though transgender players retain eligibility for open tournaments, including the PDC World Darts Championship.

Hilton's report lists height, limb length, muscle mass as factors Hilton's report argues that "multiple, small-magnitude sex differences accumulate" to produce a male advantage over female players in darts. Specifically, the report identifies greater height, longer limbs, broader shoulders, more muscle mass, and stiffer tendons as physical traits that "improve reach, stability, and throwing technique, which influences consistency and precision." The DRA cited this analysis in its official statement, concluding that restricting women's tournaments to biological females was necessary "to achieve fair competition." The authority also stated that it "seeks to be inclusive" and that all players, regardless of biological sex, legal sex, or gender identity, may compete in open tournaments and are encouraged to do so. Not all experts accepted the report's conclusions without question. Sports philosopher Sandra Meeuwsen, who specialises in inclusion in sport, told de Volkskrant that the argumentation was "very clever" but that the biological factors cited are "not decisive — not in darts." The DRA did not publish a response to those criticisms.

Van Leuven, six-time PDC Women's Series winner, calls ruling a "massive blow" Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who has won 6 (titles) — PDC Women's Series titles won by van Leuven titles on the PDC Women's Series and was the first transgender person to compete in the PDC World Darts Championship, described the decision as a forced retirement at age 29. Van Leuven, who decided on gender reassignment surgery in 2014 and completed her transition in 2022, said she learned of the ruling by email. „The DRA just decided that trans women are no longer allowed in women's events, which basically means I'm out.” — Noa-Lynn van Leuven via Reuters In a separate video posted on Instagram, she elaborated on the personal cost of the decision. „I worked so damn hard for years to get here. And now, with just one decision, I am told I no longer belong.” — Noa-Lynn van Leuven via RP Online Paul Engelbertink, director of the Dutch Darts Association, said he did not know whether van Leuven would be interested in competing in the open category, which is dominated by male players including Luke Littler, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen. Engelbertink described the situation as "very sad" and noted that van Leuven had already endured what he called "truly animalistic" reactions from parts of the darts community over the previous two years.

IOC gene-screening decision in March set a wider precedent for sport The DRA ruling came weeks after the International Olympic Committee announced on March 26, 2026, that only biological females, verified through a one-time SRY gene-screening test, will be eligible to compete in female category events at the Olympic Games, beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Van Leuven directly linked the two decisions, describing the DRA ruling as "another massive blow to the trans community, especially after the recent decisions by the IOC." The DRA statement itself referenced the IOC announcement, framing its own review as part of a broader shift in how sports bodies are approaching sex-based eligibility. „Every day, it becomes more difficult for transgender people to simply exist, to compete. If you think it stops with me, think again. We just want to exist.” — Noa-Lynn van Leuven via Ouest France The ruling applies with immediate effect to all women's tournaments governed by DRA regulations, including the PDC Women's Series. Van Leuven remains eligible to compete at Alexandra Palace in the PDC World Darts Championship, which operates as an open tournament.

Darts has historically operated with a relatively open competitive structure, with the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace serving as the sport's premier event. Van Leuven made history as the first openly transgender person to compete in a televised darts tournament and the first to play at the PDC World Darts Championship. Two years before the DRA ruling, two female players refused to continue playing alongside van Leuven in the Dutch women's team, citing her biological background — an episode that drew public condemnation from top male players including Michael van Gerwen. The IOC's March 2026 decision to introduce mandatory SRY gene-screening for the female category represented a significant policy shift for international sport, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics set as the implementation deadline.