A darts player has been warned that he could face a lifetime ban if he fails to adhere to the sport’s drug testing regulations after recently failing a test.
On January 14, the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) decided to ban Dom Taylor from the sport for six months after he tested positive for cocaine and cannabis use at the 2025/26 World Darts Championship.
After being removed from the PDC tournament in December, having already secured his place in the second round by beating Oskar Lukasiak 3-0 in the first round at Alexandra Palace, Taylor issued a lengthy apology to his Facebook page in which he apologised to his fans, friends and family.
He forfeited his £25,000 prize money and was also banned from competing in all PDC-sanctioned events.
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During a hearing which took place in front of a disciplinary committee, it was adjudged that the drug offences occurred before the tournament, resulting in a mandatory six-month ban due to this being the second occasion Taylor has failed a test.
The 27-year-old had previously served a one-month ban in 2025 after he failed a drugs test at the Players Championships Finals in November 2024.
Taylor’s Tour Card has also been revoked.
And speaking to Online Darts in an interview released on January 29, Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) chairman Alan Warriner-Little gave his thoughts on the ban and said that “the only reason it’s [cocaine] on the banned substance list is because it’s illegal, not because it’s a performance-enhancing drug”.
Warriner-Little also made clear that there is “no indication whatsoever of cheating” on Taylor’s part.
Although he did admit that the 27-year-old was “very lucky” to avoid a more severe sanction.
“It’s a six-month ban, in the PDC it’s effectively one year, because he can’t play Q-School until January,” the PDPA chairman explained.
“If he gets caught again, it’s an immediate lifetime ban. It couldn’t happen again.”
He then focused on the human aspect of the ban and how Taylor’s personal life was “all over the place” at the time of the offence.
After revealing that he had been in contact offering support to Taylor, Warriner-Little added: “Last year he missed the World Championship. This year, he’s lost £25,000 in prize money, lost his tour card, and lost his sponsorship.
“He’s lost a lot — and that’s all his fault.”
Topics: Darts
Luke Davies