Cheat of the Day

History-making transgender New Zealand darts player Victoria Monaghan says her career has been left in tatters after the World Darts Federation introduced new eligibility rules preventing transgender women from competing in female tournaments.

The federation (WDF), which governs the amateur side of the sport, voted last month to restrict women’s and girls’ ranking events to players “recorded female at birth”. Transgender women must instead compete in the reclassified Open category, previously the men’s division.

The WDF said the change was to ensure “equal opportunity”, a justification Monaghan disputes, given darts is not a sport where physical strength offers a competitive advantage, but one that relies on strong hand-eye co-ordination.

Monaghan became the first transgender woman to compete at the WDF World Darts Championship in 2023, after winning the New Zealand Open the year before.

She had hoped to return again to make amends after losing in the first round but, speaking to the Herald, Monaghan has all but given up on that dream.

NZ Herald