PDC Darts Will No Longer Use Walk-On Girls

It has confirmed that walk-on girls will no longer be involved in the Professional Darts Corporation after they announced the controversial decision in a statement.

"We regularly review all aspects of our events and this move has been made following feedback from our host broadcasters," a spokesperson told the Press Association.

For the first time, walk-on girls will not accompany dart players in this weekend's Masters in Milton Keynes and as a result, a petition has been erected in a bid to reinstate the decision.

PDC player Raymond van Barneveld has since backed the petition on Twitter, saying: "I will really miss the girls. For me they are a part of the darts. Sign their petition so they hopefully can keep their job."

The decision has certainly caused a split opinion among fans.

The Women's Sport Trust applauded PDC for their decision and tweeted: "We applaud the Professional Darts Corporation moving with the times and deciding to no longer use walk-on-girls. Motor racing, boxing and cycling... your move."

WST's statement goes on to read: "The Women's Sport Trust believes women in the sporting environment should be judged by their sports appeal and not sex appeal. We've been working with Getty to establish visual standards for the depiction of sportswomen which focus less on what women look like and more on what they achieve.

At a time when so much great work is being done to raise the visibility and increase the impact of women's sporting role models, it's disappointing to see that some of the highest profile international sporting events such as motor racing, cycling and boxing, still choose to use women to accessorise their events rather than be a central part of a sport.

What sort of message are we sending women and girls about how they are valued? We're asking them to look and admire the successful, talented, strong men taking part in the competition, whilst the role of the women is purely based on their physical appearance."

Thoughts on the decision?

Let us know in the comments.