"We support all three ladies" - Director of Dutch Darts hopes for reconciliation between Van Leuven, De Graaf and Zijlstra

Last weekend a small riot erupted in darts circles when two stars Dutch ladies darts indicated they no longer wanted to play on the same team with transwoman Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

Last week Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf announced that they no longer want to be part of the Dutch national team. This is because they don't believe any transgender players should compete in the women's side of the game. Van Leuven underwent a transition from male to female when she was seventeen.

Today the Dutch Darts Association, on behalf of chairman Paul Engelbertink, came out with a statement to NOS.nl. "We have rules and guidelines in consultation with the NOC/NSF and the World Federation that we have to follow. In those there are a number of strict requirements to be allowed to participate in tournaments as a transgender person and Noa-Lynn meets them all."

"I can understand that all this can provoke reactions, but it is currently what it is. We support all three ladies, no one expected this media storm. But in this matter we do support Noa-Lynn."

The ladies who quit the Dutch team said they felt shame at Van Leuven's presence. "Shame goes too far," Engelbertink said. "I have no sympathy for that statement, but I do understand that they have a different opinion."

"I do understand that the door is not permanently closed for both ladies. I have spoken to all involved and at the end of the week we will be in touch again to see how best to deal with this together. After all, they will often meet at tournaments in the future."