The World Darts Federation (WDF) is moving to bar transgender women from girls’ and women’s tournaments across the board. In the newly published rules for the global sports federation, only athletes who are “born female” may compete. The measure was approved by the majority of member countries. It remains unclear how the German Darts Association voted.
However, the “born female” rule does not apply to transgender men. In the federation’s guidelines, it states: “If a person whose gender at birth was identified as female begins hormone therapy to transition to a man, that person will no longer be eligible to compete in the female category.”
The new rule is seen as a victory by activists who had recently opposed the participation of the Dutch transgender woman Noa-Lynn van Leuven in tournaments. On Sunday, according to the Daily Express, security personnel removed three people from a Blackpool tournament for protesting van Leuven’s participation by throwing objects onto the stage. Later, a participant-activist described Leuven as “a man who pretends to be a woman.” Leuven has long faced death threats over her participation (TheColu.mn reported).
Since Trump’s election, repression of trans people has intensified
With Donald Trump taking office—having already made anti-transgender policy a central theme during his campaign—trans women are being pushed out of schools, amateur leagues, and professional sports at an increasing pace. Just last week, the U.S. Olympic Committee effectively banned trans women from competing in Olympic sports (TheColu.mn reported).
Trans women, however, are still allowed to compete in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), which is regarded as the more influential body in the sport. The WDF is still formally larger in terms of member countries and players, but the PDC wields greater influence due to its corporate structure, audience reach, funding, prestige, and sporting level. The PDC runs the world championships, broadcast on Sport1, with prize money of about three million euros.
