By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 36 minutes ago, Updated now
Dart, the official name for sports darts, has enjoyed impressive success in recent years. Simon West / Action Plus / Panoramic
The Dutch Dart (darts) federation has faced controversy since two of its players left their team instead of accepting a transgender teammate.
The Dutch darts federation confirmed on Monday the departure of two players who refuse to compete alongside a transgender woman on the national team. Anca Zijlstra, 50, and Aileen de Graaf, 33, announced on social media on Saturday their withdrawal from the national team because they no longer wanted to represent the Netherlands with Noa-Lynn van Leuven, 27, the 6th player in the world.
Aileen de Graaf, world number two, and Anca Zijlstra (N. 12) “informed the Dutch Darts Federation (NDB) that they were leaving the selection”the NDB said in a statement.
The moment you feel ashamed of playing for the Dutch team because a biological male plays for the women’s team, it’s time to leave. I believe that sport should have a level playing field, which should be used and accepted in good conscience.
Anca Zijlstra, player of the Dutch darts team
“The reason is that they don’t want to play in the Dutch team with a transgender person”clarified the federation, saying “to regret” this decision.
“We know that Noa-Lynn van Leuven has transitioned from male to female and that her gender identity is female”said the NDB.
“It meets all the requirements” and is eligible to play in the women’s category, in accordance with the guidelines, according to the federation.
“The moment you are ashamed to play for the Dutch team because a biological man plays for the women’s team, it’s time to leave”explained Anca Zijlstra on Facebook on Saturday.
“I believe that sport should benefit from an equal and fair playing field, which should be used and accepted in good conscience”she added.
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The sad thing about this is that many people forget that I am also a human being.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Noa-Lynn van Leuven won her first major event on the Challenge Tour in Germany last week and this weekend claimed her first title in the PDC Women’s Series in Wigan, England.
“I don’t really feel the need to delve further into this subject. It was their choice and not mine. The sad thing about this is that a lot of people forget that I’m also a human being.”she told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
“We defend a sport in which everyone feels at home and where everyone can participate (…) regardless of your origin, your political preferences, your gender, your sexual orientation, your race or your religion”underlined the federation.
Darts is very popular in the Netherlands, at amateur and professional level, with players like Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen considered legends of the sport.
