Female darts players threatened with disciplinary action for refusing to play transgender rivals

Crackdown has been condemned by those campaigning for trans women to be banned from women-only sport competitions

Female darts players have been threatened with disciplinary action if they refuse to play transgender opponents.
Almost four months after a British woman forfeited a match against a trans woman at the Denmark Open, the World Darts Federation has begun a controversial crackdown on such protests.
Ahead of announcing the provisional fields for this year’s World Championship, the governing body said in a statement: “Ahead of an important period in the WDF calendar with regional cups, the World Masters and the World Championships, the WDF wishes to clarify its position on player withdrawals.
“Once the first dart has been thrown in a tournament, any player that subsequently withdraws from playing a match may be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute and could face disciplinary action.
“This stance has been taken to suitably protect our member countries, their tournaments and tournament sponsors, as well as to preserve the integrity of the WDF ranking system.”
The crackdown was condemned by those campaigning for trans women to be banned from female-only sport competitions.
Lynne Pinches, the pool player who last year forfeited a chance to win a top national title after refusing to play a trans opponent, posted on X: “This is Darts. Punishing women for conceding a match to protect their own mental health is nothing short of disgusting. They will be disciplined so they behave like good girls.”
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, said: “As if it’s not bad enough that women face unfairness, they’re being forced to play or lose their future chances as well. They lose twice over. It shouldn’t be left to women to take a stand, but if they do, they will be punished. Some people say, ‘Why don’t women refuse to play?’ This is why.”
In May, three-time WDF World Championship finalist Deta Hedman pulled out of her Denmark Open quarter-final against trans opponent Noa-Lynn van Leuven.
Van Leuven, who has divided her sport since joining the women’s circuit after beginning transitioning in 2022, had earlier won two Professional Darts Corporation titles – the PDC Women’s Series in Wigan and a PDC Tour event in Hildesheim, Germany.
Hedman has previously called on the PDC and WDF to exclude trans women from female tournaments. She wrote on X: “I wouldn’t play a man in a ladies event”.
In a message to the Save Women’s Sport campaign group, she added: “This subject [is] causing much angst in the sport I love. People can be whoever they want in life but I don’t think biological-born men should compete in women’s sport.”