Noa-Lynn van Leuven will be banned from competing in any of the Professional Darts Corporation’s women-only events with immediate effect after a ruling from the sport’s regulatory body stated only biological females can now compete in women’s tournaments.
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has ruled that transgender women will no longer be permitted to compete in women’s events. Van Leuven can therefore no longer participate in the PDC Women’s Series, where she has won six titles, and will be prevented from also competing in the Women’s World Matchplay, which she was on course to qualify for this summer.
The DRA said the move came in order to “achieve fair competition in darts”. The DRA commissioned a report from Dr Emma Hilton, an academic developmental biologist who has published several papers on sex and categories in sport, which determined that darts is a “gender-affected sport”.
It also deemed that there were “multiple physical differences” that “provide males with an advantage over female players”.
“Whilst the performance gap is likely related to a number of relevant social factors, there are also several physical characteristics that provide males with an advantage over female players,” the report said. “Male advantage includes greater height, longer limbs, broader shoulders, more muscle mass, and stiffer tendons. These factors enhance reach, stability and throwing mechanics, affecting consistency and precision.”
Luke Littler was booed in Brighton as he surrendered top spot in the Premier League following a shock 6-4 quarter-final defeat to Stephen Bunting.
A week on from his on-stage spat with Gian van Veen in Manchester, the world champion suffered another last-eight loss and appeared to be rattled by a hostile crowd on night 10 of the competition. Littler averaged just 83.94 and failed to hit a single maximum as Bunting advanced despite hitting just six of 21 doubles.
'It was tough, to be honest, because obviously the crowd was giving him some stick,' Bunting said afterwards. 'I like Luke, he’s a fantastic lad and I don’t like to see that. It probably made me more nervous, to be honest. It put me on edge.'
Jonny Clayton ultimately moved three points ahead of Littler in the table by producing a stunning comeback from 5-2 down to beat seven-time champion Michael Van Gerwen 6-5 in a gripping final.
Clayton finished with a bullseye to edge a last-leg decider against defending champion Luke Humphries 6-5 in the opening match, and then defeated Josh Rock 6-4 in the semi-finals. The Welshman looked down and out against Van Gerwen, who beat Van Veen 6-4 and Bunting 6-5 to reach the final.
'I thought the game was over at 5-2 up for Michael,' said Clayton. 'He missed, he gave me a chance. That last leg was probably my best of the game. I’m back on top of the table, Luke Littler can start chasing me again.'
Standings after night 10:
1 Jonny Clayton (Wal) 24pts
2 Luke Littler (Eng) 21pts
3 Gerwyn Price (Wal) 19pts
4 Michael van Gerwen (Neth) 16pts
5 Gian van Veen (Neth) 12pts
6 Stephen Bunting (Eng) 11pts
7 Luke Humphries (Eng) 11pts
8 Josh Rock (NI) 6pts
The move comes after the International Olympic Committee last month banned transgender women from the female category of events, starting with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Van Leuven responded on social media on Thursday afternoon, saying she had been “retired” by the decision. “I just got an email,” the 29-year-old said in a post on Instagram. “Apparently, I just got retired, not by choice, but because I am no longer allowed to compete.
“The DRA has just decided that trans women are no longer allowed in women’s events, which basically means I am out. I have worked so damn hard for years just to get here. I showed up and I competed. I respected the sport every game and every single day.
“Now, with just one decision, I am being told I no longer belong. This isn’t just about me, it is another huge hit for the trans community. Especially after the recent decisions made by the IOC. Every day it is getting harder for trans people just to exist, to compete. If you think this stops with me, it doesn’t. We just want to be.”
Van Leuven could still pursue a career at the highest level of darts, with the PDC’s professional tour open for all. Beau Greaves is the sole female player currently competing on the tour while the former women’s world champion, Lisa Ashton, held a two-year professional tour card in 2020 and 2021.
