Transgender darts player claims she was axed from tournament due to her gender

A TRANS darts player says she was axed from a match due to her gender.

Samantha Lewis, 28, planned to compete in the female category at the England Darts Open.

But organisers said her entry into the June competition in Ilfracombe, Devon, had been refused.

In April, England Darts’ Tommy Thompson said: “Non-birth gender females in women’s events will ultimately result in the demise of our women’s sport.”

Samantha, from North Cave, East Yorks, said: “That was very disheartening getting that message because I’ve always wanted to go down there and play in that competition.

“I finally get the chance to and then I’m told I’m not allowed, just because of my gender identity… it’s broken to me.

“I don’t feel like I have an advantage over natural birth women. It’s all to do with the practice you put in.

“It’s a skill sport. I know that you’re using your arm to throw it at the board, but it’s having that precision skill to be able to throw something to such an accurate target.

“I do agree that trans women shouldn’t play [competitively] in physical sports like football, rugby, swimming, boxing. But darts is a skill sport, not a physical sport.”

Samantha, a support worker from North Cave, East Yorks., whose transition journey started at 14, caught the bug for darts by watching her dad compete in pubs and tournaments.

She started taking part competitively roughly six years ago and now plays for the Humberside County Darts side.

But Samantha said she often faces abuse from fellow players and those at venues, who make offensive remarks on account of her gender.