"Fake smile on and keep going" - Noa-Lynn van Leuven fears for her future in WDF after rumoured ruling

Last week the WDF Europe Cup took place in Slovakia. Prior to that tournament, the countries in attendance reportedly voted for a new rule to ban trans individuals from participating in women's tournaments. This to the displeasure of Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

Van Leuven did extremely well at the WDF Europe Cup. In the singles she lost in the final against Robyn Byrne, but with the Dutch team she captured the European title. The title in the pairs tournament also went to Van Leuven, this time alongside Aletta Wajer.

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Still, negative feelings about Van Leuven's mood prevailed. "While the opening ceremony of the Europe Cup is happening right now. There are also other things happening behind the scenes... Especially on trying to get trans people excluded from sports… As it stands now Trans people are getting cancelled within the WDF. When is it going to happen? No one knows yet! But the members voted for it today. Really looking forward to the rest of this week... Fake smile on and keep going," she wrote on Instagram.

Noa-Lynn van Leuven in action at this year's World Matchplay

OutSports, a website that focuses on the position of the LGBT community in the sports world, came up with more info on the vote. For example, they learned that a majority voted to ban trans people from participating. "Not all members were present at the meeting," the site reports. "Of those who were there, 20 voted for a ban, 11 voted against, 13 cast no vote."

Discussion

The position of trans individuals in the darts world has been fodder for discussion for longer than today. For example, Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf decided some time ago that they would no longer play for the Dutch team if Van Leuven was selected.

Deta Hedman, winner of more than a hundred international tournaments, has also frequently expressed negative views on the admission of trans people to women's tournaments. Hedman even categorically refuses to play against trans people, and if she is selected to play against them, she forfeits.