- The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has officially updated its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy, ruling that only biological females are eligible for women-only events.
- The decision follows a year-long review supported by scientific analysis which concluded that biological sex differences provide a “male advantage” in the sport.
- While restricted from women’s tournaments, the DRA clarified that all players, regardless of gender identity or biological sex, remain eligible to compete in open-category competitions.
Professional darts has undergone a significant regulatory change following the Darts Regulation Authority’s announcement on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Eko Hot Blog reports that after an extensive review process that began in 2025, the DRA has moved to restrict participation in women’s events to biological females.
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The governing body stated that while it aims for inclusivity, the move is a necessary step to ensure competitive fairness within the women’s division.
This decision aligns with a growing global trend in professional sports where governing bodies are re-evaluating eligibility criteria for female categories.
The impact of this ruling was felt immediately by high-profile players such as Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who made history in 2024 as the first transgender woman to compete in the PDC World Championship.
In a video shared online, van Leuven expressed her frustration, stating that the ruling effectively forced her into retirement from the women’s circuit.
She noted that receiving the notification felt like being “out” of the sport she has spent years competing in, highlighting the personal toll such policy changes take on transgender athletes currently active in the professional scene.
The DRA’s updated stance was heavily informed by a commissioned report that identified multiple small-magnitude sex differences that accumulate to create a male advantage in darts.
This scientific and legal review mirrors actions taken by the World Darts Federation last year and anticipated changes from the International Olympic Committee for the 2028 Games.
The DRA maintains that the “Open” category serves as an inclusive space for all competitors, ensuring that no player is completely barred from professional play, even if they are excluded from sex-segregated events.
Public reaction to the ban has been deeply divided. Proponents of the new rules argue that the DRA is taking a stand to protect the integrity and biological fairness of women’s sports.
Conversely, advocacy groups and some fellow competitors have criticized the move as exclusionary, arguing that it ignores the social and psychological aspects of gender identity in professional competition.
As the new regulations take effect immediately, the focus now shifts to how the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and other major tours will implement these standards across their global tournament schedules.
