DARTS star Noa-Lynn van Leuven will no longer be able to compete in women’s tournaments under the World Darts Federation.
It follows an update in the organisation’s eligibility rules on participation in events.
The decision was finalised on Monday after a vote by WDF members.
In September 2024 a WDF General Meeting saw a remit put forward calling for the organisation to restrict participation in women’s tournaments to only players who are female by birth.
It means transgender women, such as 28-year-old Van Leuven, can only compete in the Open Category - which includes male players - under the organisation.
A WDF statement on the change said: “Effective Monday 28 July 2025, entry and participation in WDF Women’s and Girls Ranking Tournaments and Cups will only be open to players that are WOMEN/FEMALE as defined under this policy.
“Accordingly, WDF Tournaments, Cups and Ranking Tables will be renamed and redefined as ‘Open’, ‘Women’, ‘Open Youth’ and ‘Girls’ tournaments and cups.
“We understand these changes may be challenging for people who want to compete in darts in the gender which they are now registered as.
“The WDF has directly contacted its Member Countries so as they can discuss these changes with affected players directly.”
This change will not affect the Dutch stars - or other transgender darts players - participation in competitions under the Professional Darts Corporation.
The PDC, who refused to comment on this matter when approached by SunSport, operate under the rules of the Darts Regulation Authority.
Last year, Van Leuven broke new ground as she became the first Dutch woman to qualify for the World Darts Championship, but was eliminated in the first round by compatriot Kevin Doets.
She also featured in the Women’s World Matchplay of Darts in last week, reaching the semi-final before losing to eventual winner Lisa Ashton.
Van Leuven is currently ranked 4th in the PDC Women’s Order of Merit, with the top three stars eligible to qualify for the WDC and top rank qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts.
Ahead of last year’s Ally Pally tournament, , leading to
Three-time world champion came before they faced off in the Grand Slam of Darts last year.
He said: “It’s just heartbreaking. She does what she does and she can play terrific.
“Let her playnice. For me, there’s never been a discussion, but I don’t make the rules. The PDC has people who go over them.
“They can never make the right choice anyway. If they go left, people say they should go right and vice versa.
“Everyone has anopinionabout it, but there is no point at all in continuing to argue.”
Van Leuven previously revealed how she had started considering her transition at the age of 16 after becoming “more and more unhappy with myself, to a point that I didn’t want to live any more”.
