World Darts Federation has threatened female competitors with disciplinary action if they refuse to compete against trans-identifying males.
Ahead of this year’s World Championship, the WDF issued a statement that made it clear the federation will not tolerate any woman who forfeits their match because they have to play against a biological male, months after British female darts player Deta Hedman did just that, Yahoo News reported.
“The WDF wishes to clarify its position on player withdrawals,” the statement read.
“Once the first dart has been thrown in a tournament, any player that subsequently withdraws from playing a match may be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute and could face disciplinary action,” it added.
The World Darts Federation (WDF) has issued a statement saying that any woman who withdraws from a women’s darts competition because a man is competing in it could “face disciplinary action” for reasons including “preserving the integrity” of the WDF https://t.co/qXDOuOV9V7
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“This stance has been taken to suitably protect our member countries, their tournaments and tournament sponsors, as well as to preserve the integrity of the WDF ranking system,” the statement concluded.
In May, Hedman made headlines after she dropped out of her darts competition in Denmark after having to face transgender competitor Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the quarterfinals. Hedman forfeited her game and later went on social media to explain that “biological born men” should not “compete in Women’s sport.”
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“No fake illness, I said I wouldn’t play a man in a ladies event,” Hedman wrote on X, the New York Post noted.
Last month, Hedman withdrew from another competition after learning she would face another transgender opponent, Yahoo News noted.
Following the release of the WDF’s statement, Hedman told Telegraph Sport she felt that it was directed right at her, the outlet noted.
“When that statement went out, I felt it was aimed at me,” the British darts player said. “They haven’t shown any regard for the mental health of anyone female-born at all.”
“It’s all about the mental health of transgender women,” she added. “They have not once come to us ladies and asked how we are feeling about it. We’re having to stand up to say, ‘This is how we feel.'”
She also talked about dropping out in May due to her “mental health” after being told she must compete against a biological male.
“It’s been affecting me for a very, very long time,” Hedman told the outlet. “And, when it did happen, I just broke down. I was a mess, an absolute mess.”
