Trans darts star Noa-Lynn Van Leuven speaks out after World Darts Federation bans trans women from competing

Dutch trans darts star Noa-Lynn Van Leuven has issued a heartfelt response following the World Darts Federation’s (WDF) controversial decision to ban trans women from competing in its women’s tournaments.

The new gender eligibility policy restricts participation in women’s and girls’ events to individuals assigned female at birth. The ruling has sparked widespread debate across the darts community and beyond, with Van Leuven - one of the sport’s most prominent trans athletes - at the centre of the storm.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Van Leuven said: “This decision does affect me personally - though, thankfully, not too severely at this point in time. But still, it hurts. Once again, it’s a loss for the trans community in sports. And that breaks my heart.” 

She continued: “As a trans person in the darts world, I know how vital inclusion is - not just on paper, but in practice. It’s disheartening to see yet another policy framed around ‘fairness’ that ultimately results in exclusion, without truly considering the people behind the labels.” 

“My heart goes out to all the athletes impacted by this. We remain visible. We keep going.”

The WDF defended its decision, citing a vote by its member federations and referencing “significant changes in scientific understanding, legislation, or the preferences of member nations.” However, critics have pointed out that darts is a sport where physical attributes play a minimal role, and no scientific evidence currently supports claims of competitive advantage for trans women.

Van Leuven, who recently reached the semi-finals of the Women’s World Matchplay, will now be barred from WDF women’s events but remains eligible to compete in the open category and under the PDC banner, where she has already enjoyed success this season.

The timing of the policy change has raised eyebrows, coming shortly after Van Leuven’s rise in prominence on the WDF tour. Past controversies have also surrounded her participation, with some players withdrawing from events or stepping down from national teams in protest.

Despite the setback, Van Leuven remains defiant: “My heart goes out to all the athletes impacted by this. We remain visible. We keep going.”