PDC chief executive Matt Porter has defended their policy on allowing transgender players to compete in women’s competitions as ‘fair’.
Van Leuven has been competing against female opposition since 2021 and finished second on the PDC Women’s Order of Merit this year.
That saw the 28-year-old secure a spot at both the Grand Slam of Darts this week as well as the PDC World Championships next month.
She will become the first transgender player to feature in both events having also won four times in 2024.
Her involvement in women’s darts has led to plenty of backlash with Deta Hedman refusing to play in WDF events while Van Leuven was allowed to play.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven is competing at the Grand Slam of Darts this week
PDC
But Porter sees no current reason for the PDC to put a ban in place for transgender players like Van Leuven from the women’s tour.
“We took legal advice and we took some ideas from policy that other sports bodies, the IOC and other governing bodies have put in place,” Porter told Sky Sports.
“Ultimately, we came up with a policy that we believe to be fair. We respect the fact that not everybody agrees with that and we accept that it’s not a unanimously accepted position.
“However, it’s a position that we’ve adopted and that we believe is fair. Noa-Lynn’s been playing – and others – have been playing under that rule for a number of years now.
“Noa-Lynn’s started to achieve more success in recent years, hence the opposition to her has become more vocal, which is the way of the world.
“Again, it’s something we respect but ultimately we have a policy in place and it’s one that we’re comfortable with.”
It was recently reported that a WDF members’ meeting took place where it was decided that trans players would no longer be able to play WDF events.
It’s not clear when the reported ruling would come into effect, but Van Leuven hit out at her rivals on the women’s tour following the decision.
“They (other players) secretly tell me that they don’t understand the commotion,” she told Dutch outlet NU.
“But there are a lot of conservative, toxic b***hes on the women’s tour.
“They see me as a threat. I throw well now (on the women’s tour) because I feel more comfortable.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven started transitioning when she was 16
“It’s a matter of putting money and hours into it. Not many women do that, but I do. I’ve proven I can win over men, too.”
Van Leuven also opened up on the abuse she’s received over the past few years as she prepares to become the first trans player to compete at this year’s PDC World Championships.
She added: “People send the most terrible messages and then go on preparing their pasta.
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Noa-Lynn van Leuven is set to become the first trans player to play at the Alexandra PalacePDC
“They have no idea the impact it has on my life.
“I didn’t dare go out on the street for several weeks and had panic attacks. It did take a while for that fear to go away.
“Standing there (at the PDC World Championship) as the first Dutch woman is already the ultimate middle finger for me.”