Greaves says “we’re just fighting for women’s rights” after backing trans ban

BEAU GREAVES has backed the decision to ban transgender women from the PDC Women’s Series.

The decision primarily affected Dutch star Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who had won six PDC Women’s Series titles before the new policy was introduced.

Van Leuven, 29, was also on course to qualify for the Women’s World Matchplay this summer but was unable to compete following the verdict.

The DRA said the move was made in order to “achieve fair competition in darts”.

It followed a report commissioned from Dr Emma Hilton, an academic developmental biologist who has published research on sex and categories in sport.

The report determined that darts is a “gender-affected sport” and found there were “multiple physical differences” which “provide males with an advantage over female players”.

Greaves insists she has “no bad feeling” towards Van Leuven despite supporting the decision.

She told the Observer: “I have no bad feeling towards Noa at all.

“Playing when all that was going on was tough because you don’t want to say anything too close to the bone and get called transphobic, which is not the case.

“We’re just fighting for women’s rights. I think the right decision was made, but I’d always respect her.”

Greaves has subsequently underlined the potential of female players to compete against the men after enjoying a breakthrough season herself.

The Doncaster thrower became the first woman to win a PDC ProTour title and has shown that women can regularly challenge male opposition when given the right coaching and support.

The PDC’s long-term ambition has been to eventually remove the need for a separate women’s tour altogether if female players can establish themselves on the main circuit.

But Beau ‘n’ Arrow believes confidence remains a major obstacle, with many female players still lacking belief in their own ability.

She added: “If you asked the majority of the ladies now, ‘Do you want to go and play against men on Sky Sports?’, they would say no.

“Sometimes it feels a little bit like an exhibition.

“I’ve had to stop thinking like that and actually try and think, ‘No, I am good enough.’

“[Other female players] don’t believe in themselves maybe as much as they should do.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning