Trans darts player Samantha Lewis sues after women’s event ban as Deta Hedman Facebook dispute takes centre stage

Transgender darts player Samantha Lewis has launched a discrimination case after being barred from competing in women’s events, with a Facebook dispute involving Deta Hedman forming a central part of the organisations’ defence.

Lewis, 29, says she competed in women’s tournaments for seven years without objection before being excluded in 2024 by England Darts and Tri Nations Darts.

According to a report by The Sun, Lewis is now suing for discrimination. The two organisations, however, deny that her exclusion was based on her being transgender and instead say she was barred because of claims she made about Hedman on Facebook.

Lewis’ legal claim states that she began playing darts at the age of 14, officially changed her name by deed poll in 2015 and has taken hormones for ten years to increase her oestrogen levels and reduce her testosterone levels.

Hedman, one of the most prominent figures in women’s darts, has repeatedly spoken out against transgender women competing in female events. The organisations say Lewis published false information about the 66-year-old following the Denmark Women’s Open. She is alleged to have claimed that Hedman lost the final to Dutch transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven, refused to shake her opponent’s hand afterwards and then “stormed out”.

England Darts and Tri Nations Darts dispute those claims and say the Facebook post, rather than Lewis’ gender transition, was the reason behind her exclusion. They are also arguing that her discrimination claim was lodged outside the permitted time limit.

The dispute arrives after England Darts had already taken a public position on transgender participation in women’s competition.

In April 2024, the organisation issued a statement saying it would not participate in women’s events involving what it described as “non-birth gender females”. England Darts argued that allowing transgender women to compete in those categories would “ultimately result in the demise of our Women’s sport”.

Van Leuven has been the most prominent player at the centre of the issue in recent years. The Dutchwoman made history through her success on the women’s circuit and became a regular talking point within the sport as debate intensified over the eligibility of transgender women for female competitions.

Hedman has been among the strongest opponents. The veteran has previously made her position clear publicly and has been involved in some of the highest-profile moments surrounding the issue.

Van Leuven has subsequently faced restrictions on entering certain women’s competitions as different governing bodies and tournament organisers have adopted their own eligibility policies.

Lewis’ case now brings the dispute into the courts. A hearing is scheduled to take place at Hull County Court in December, where the circumstances surrounding her exclusion and the discrimination claim will be considered.