Dutch female darts veterans retire due to transgender teammate

Dutch darts officials confirmed on Monday that two seasoned women players have stepped down from their roles after expressing their reluctance to compete alongside a transgender woman in the national team. Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf announced their resignations over the weekend, citing their discomfort with representing the Netherlands alongside Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

The Dutch Darts Association (NDB) issued a statement acknowledging Zijlstra and De Graaf’s decision to withdraw from national selection. They explained that the players no longer wished to participate in the Dutch team due to the presence of a transgender individual. While the NDB expressed regret over their choice, they also defended Van Leuven, who currently holds the sixth position in the women’s world rankings.

According to the NDB, Van Leuven has undergone a gender transition and identifies as female, meeting all the necessary criteria to compete in the women’s category. Despite this clarification, Zijlstra and De Graaf decided to step down, expressing their belief in the importance of fairness and equality in sports.

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Zijlstra, currently ranked 12th globally by the World Darts Federation, shared her decision on Facebook, stating that it was made with a heavy heart. She emphasized the principle of a level playing field in sports and expressed her discomfort with the inclusion of a biological male in the women’s team.

Similarly, De Graaf, the world number two, echoed Zijlstra’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of fairness in competitive sports. Van Leuven, who recently achieved significant success in darts competitions, expressed disappointment over the situation, noting the toll it has taken on her.

Despite the resignations of Zijlstra and De Graaf, the NDB reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity and diversity in sports. They thanked the departing players for their years of service to the Dutch team while emphasizing the importance of creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and can participate regardless of their background or identity.

Darts holds significant popularity in the Netherlands, both at the grassroots level and professionally, with renowned players like Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen regarded as legends in the sport.