Dom Taylor faces lifetime ban from darts
Dom Taylor has been warned he will receive an immediate lifetime ban from darts should he fail another drugs test following his World Championship disqualification, reports BritPanorama.
The 27-year-old was removed from the Alexandra Palace tournament in December after testing positive for cocaine and cannabis, marking his second failed test within 14 months.
Taylor had secured victory in his opening round match but was thrown out before he could face Jonny Clayton in the next round. The Darts Regulation Authority Disciplinary Committee determined that Taylor consumed the substances before competition officially began, sparing him from a four-year suspension.
Instead, he received a six-month ban and was stripped of £25,000 in prize money. Professional Darts Players Association chairman Alan Warriner-Little explained the timing was crucial: “From 23:59 the day before the tournament starts, that’s considered out of competition. Anything after that is in competition. It was borderline.”
Warriner-Little added that Taylor’s use of the substances was significant, stating, “He was very lucky, absolutely.” The suspension effectively amounts to a year-long absence from professional darts, as Taylor cannot compete in Q-School until January 2027.
In addition to the ban, he has lost his tour card and sponsorship deals. Warriner-Little also revealed that Taylor is battling addiction and described his circumstances as chaotic, saying, “The guy was in trouble. He’s got an addiction. His life was all over the place. He was chaotic.”
The PDPA chairman confirmed that darts authorities are covering the cost of Taylor’s rehabilitation treatment, stating, “Of course, we helped him. It’s not cheap, but we have a fantastic support network. We would do that for anybody.”
Warriner-Little provided an update on Taylor’s progress, saying, “He’s doing fine. I spoke to him this morning. He’s due out at the end of this week.”
Taylor missed the World Championship entirely the previous year, compounding his recent troubles. Despite his personal struggles, it was confirmed that the substances detected were not performance-enhancing, and Warriner-Little emphasised, “There’s no indication whatsoever of cheating.”
One can only ponder how Taylor’s return to the sport will be received, as he faces both the weight of expectation and the stark reality of his past decisions. A reminder of the thin line athletes tread between brilliance and consequence.
