Noa-Lynn van Leuven has responded to the decision by darts federation WDF to ban trans women from women’s tournaments. The Dutch dart player is “personally affected” and saddened by the measure.
Due to the measure, the 28-year-old Van Leuven is no longer welcome at the women’s tournaments of the WDF, the second largest darts federation. “This decision affects me personally,” she writes on Instagram. “Fortunately, it doesn’t affect me too much at the moment, but it still hurts.”
The WDF took the decision after a vote during the general meeting of members of the federation. The proposal had already been submitted in September 2024. But legal authorities had to approve the majority of votes.
“It is once again a loss for the trans community in sports,” Van Leuven continues. “That breaks my heart. As a trans person in the darting world, I know how important inclusion is. Not only on paper, but also in practice.”
According to Van Leuven, the WDF does not take into account the “people behind the labels”. “It is discouraging to see yet another policy that revolves around ‘fairness’, which ultimately leads to exclusion. My heart goes out to all athletes who are affected by this.”
Van Leuven is allowed to participate in PDC
Van Leuven is still allowed to participate in the so-called open category at the WDF, in which all men also play. In the women’s category, only biologically born women are allowed.
At the largest darts federation PDC, Van Leuven is still allowed to participate in all tournaments. Last year, Van Leuven was the first Dutch woman ever to qualify for the World Darts Championship (PDC). On Sunday she participated in the PDC Women’s World Matchplay in Blackpool.
The participation of trans women in women’s sports has been a topic of discussion in the sports world for some time. Athletics federation World Athletics, swimming federation World Aquatics (formerly FINA) and the English Football Association FA have already come up with the rule that trans athletes who have gone through puberty as a man are not allowed to participate in (international) women’s competitions.