British female darts player Deta Hedman refused to play against a transgender competitor, Noa-Lynn van Leuven, in a quarterfinal match at the Denmark Open.
Hedman withdrew from the tournament, rejecting claims it was due to illness and declining compensation.
She said she would not play against “a man in a ladies event” and does not think “biological born men should compete in Women’s sport.” This issue causes “much angst” in the sport.
'LADIES' ONLY: Female darts player who refused to play transgender opponent is setting the record straight about why she forfeited the match. https://t.co/FdzsdmWK6N pic.twitter.com/rSpFLqgbQG
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“No fake illness I said I wouldn’t play a man in a ladies event,” Hedman wrote on X.
She added, “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.”
Van Leuven transitioned at age 16 and complies with the PDC and IOC’s transgender participation policies, which require 12 months of testosterone below a certain level and at least 4 years identifying as female without presumption of advantage.
“I was getting more and more unhappy with myself, to a point that I didn’t want to live any more,” van Leuven said. “And that was the moment where I thought: I can go two sides now. I can end it, or I can live as who I want to live.”
Hedman’s decision highlighted debates around transgender athlete inclusion in women’s sports.
