Noa-Lynn van Leuven has been banned from competing in any Professional Darts Corporation women-only events with immediate effect after a ruling from the sport’s regulatory body said only biological females can now take part in women’s tournaments.
The decision means van Leuven can no longer play in the PDC Women’s Series, where she has won six titles, and will also be prevented from competing in the Women’s World Matchplay.
The ruling was made by the Darts Regulation Authority, which determined that darts is a “gender-affected sport”. As a result, transgender women will no longer be permitted to compete in women’s events under its rules.
Van Leuven had been on course to qualify for the Women’s World Matchplay this summer before the ban took effect. The latest decision marks a significant change to eligibility in women’s darts and applies immediately across DRA-governed competition.
The PDC Women’s Series has been one of van Leuven’s main arenas in recent seasons, and her six titles there made her one of the most successful players in the field. That record will now remain separate from future women’s events under the new eligibility ruling.
The DRA’s classification of darts as a gender-affected sport places it among disciplines where the governing body has concluded that sex-based eligibility restrictions are justified for women’s competition. The immediate consequence is that van Leuven will be unable to continue in the events she had been contesting under that category.
No further details were included in the source report about any appeal process or additional changes to women’s darts regulations beyond the immediate enforcement of the ruling.
