Van Leuven banned with immediate effect from PDC women’s tournaments; federation adopts new guidelines on transgender eligibility

Noa-Lynn van Leuven has been immediately ruled ineligible to compete in the PDC Women’s Series following the introduction of new guidelines by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA), which have now been adopted by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

Under the updated rules, which came into force in April 2026, entry into DRA-sanctioned women’s tournaments is restricted to biological women. As a result, Van Leuven is no longer permitted to participate in the Women’s Series and will instead be limited to competing in open PDC events.

The revised policy stems from a review process that began in 2025. It draws on a scientific report by developmental biologist Emma Hilton, alongside legal advice and recent UK court rulings.

A key conclusion of Hilton’s findings is that even small physical differences between men and women can accumulate to create a structural advantage in darts. On that basis, the sport has been classified as “gender-affected” under the UK Equality Act 2010, allowing for women’s competitions to be restricted to biological females in the interest of fairness.

These changes have immediate implications for Van Leuven, who has been a high-profile figure on the Women’s Series in recent years and has consistently competed at a top international level.

The DRA says the new framework is designed to ensure a level playing field. It replaces the previous policy on transgender and gender-diverse participation with a clearer, standardized set of rules that apply across all affiliated bodies, including the PDC and the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA).

Despite the restriction, the DRA has stressed that inclusivity remains important. Players of all gender identities are still eligible to compete in open-category events, where there are no such entry limitations.

The governing body also confirmed that the policy will be kept under regular review, with annual assessments planned to reflect any new scientific, legal, or sporting developments.

Van Leuven was already at the center of controversy last year when Dutch players Aileen de Graaf and Anca Zijlstra withdrew from the national women’s team, citing concerns about competing alongside a transgender player. Prior to that, Deta Hedman had also been outspoken on the issue and had withdrawn from multiple matches when drawn against Van Leuven in women’s competitions.