Tennis icon Martina Navratilova interferes in darts dispute: ''No male bodies in women's sports''

Martina Navratilova has criticized transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven after title success in the PDC Women's Series last weekend. Her participation once again caused a stir on social media.

Last week, Van Leuven already appeared in the spotlight after she managed to win a Challenge Tour tournament. In doing so, she defeated Stefan Bellmont, Alexander Merkx, Darryl Pilgrim, John Henderson, Cam Crabtree and Tytus Kanik.

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On Saturday, however, Van Leuven also achieved success at the Women's Series. After that, however, it was mostly about a statement brought out by compatriot Anca Zijlstra. She no longer made herself available for the Dutch women's team because Van Leuven is also in it. Later, Aileen de Graaf also announced she no longer wants to play for the Netherlands for the same reason.

Via the social medium X, eighteen-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova, who has frequently spoken out about the participation of transgender people in women's sports. According to Navratilova, it should not be possible for ''male bodies'' to participate in women's sports. ''No male bodies in women's sports please, not even in darts,'' she wrote.

Then she also responded briefly to the news that two Dutch players have left the Dutch women's team. "Again, women get the short end of the stick either way. And it stinks," Navratilova posted.

The Dutch Darts Association came out with a statement Monday after all the fuss. It stated that everyone should be able to feel at home in the darts world. ''We find it important that one hundred percent of people feel welcome at the NDB in a socially safe, healthy and inclusive sports environment. In that, it does not matter what your origin, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion is."

Martina Navratilova

@Martina

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No males bodies in women’s sports please- not even in darts

Bożena

@Bozenka_2023

This Irish woman has lost a Women's darts title to a man. Grossly unfair and unsporting. I'm slightly heartened by the number of men in the comments equally outraged. #SaveWomensSports

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Martina Navratilova

@Martina

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Again- women get the short end of the stick either way. And it stinks.

REDUXX

@ReduxxMag

Two female darts players in the Netherlands have dropped out of the Dutch Women's Team in response to the inclusion of a trans-identified male. Aileen de Graaf and Anca Zijlstra left the sport after NoaLynn Van Leuven became the Women's Series 2 Champion. reduxx.info/netherlands-tw…

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