PDC chief executive Matt Porter rules transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven out of the upcoming championship…see reason

Van Leuven will no longer become the first trans player to play in a televised PDC tournament against men when she appears at the Grand Slam of Darts from November 9-17, live on Sky Sports, before playing in the World Championship the following month at Alexandra Palace.

The 28-year-old – who was granted permission to compete in women’s darts in 2021 – secured places in both events after ending the season second behind Beau Greaves in the PDC Women’s Order of Merit, having won four times and added three other runner-up finishes during an impressive campaign.

Van Leuven’s appearance in women’s competitions has previously received hostility from some players, with Deta Hedman withdrawing from World Darts Federation [WDF] events earlier this year rather than face her, although Porter remains ‘comfortable’ with the PDC’s stance.

“We took legal advice and we took some ideas from policy that other sports bodies, the IOC and other governing bodies have put in place,”

Every tournament staged by the PDC is held under the rules laid down by the Darts Regulation Authority [DRA], who issued their Trans and Gender Diverse Policy earlier this year to reiterate darts as an “inclusive sport”.

They said: “The Darts Regulation Authority as the world governing body for Darts encourages mixed gender events. The only exceptions are the Women’s Series and Women’s Matchplay operated by the PDC.

“Darts is open to all who wish to be involved in any capacity and we encourage all trans and non-binary participants to take part.”