Darts player refuses to play against transgender opponent

Outspoken professional darts player Deta Hedman has dropped out of the Denmark Open after refusing to face transgender opponent Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the quarter finals of the competition. Hedman expressed discomfort with facing off against a ‘biological born’ male in a sporting event. Since dropping out, her supporters have compensated her for the prize money that she may have won.

As such, Van Leuven received a bye and progressed to the semi-finals by default, where she was beaten by 2022 World Masters winner Beau Greaves. Greaves would go on to win the competition, defeating Lorraine Hyde by a score of 5-2 in the final.

Van Leuven transitioned from male to female as a teenager. She has spoken positively about the experience, claiming that had she not undergone the process, she ‘wouldn’t be here anymore’ [via The Independent].

On her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Hedman wrote: “No fake illness, I said I wouldn't play a man in a ladies event. This subject causing much angst in the sport I love. People can be whoever they want in life but I don't think biological born men should compete in Women's sport.” Previously, in a statement on Facebook, she wrote: “For many months I've struggled with transgenders playing in the women's world ranked events.

“I have though this is wrong since day one, I have no problems with transgenders in life, I'm not close to Noa-Lynn in darts but in fairness seems a lovely person.

“At Lakeside I met Victoria Monaghan and she is right character we had banter and a fair few laughs, but my personal view is trans shouldn't playing in women's ranked events. In my opinion those (mainly men) who say no reasons why women can't play as well as men are talking out of their rear end.”