Darts star Dom Taylor has been handed a six-month suspension by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after testing positive for cocaine and cannabis at the recent World Darts Championship. This severe penalty comes after he had already forfeited his tour card and a substantial £25,000 in prize money. Crucially, this marks Taylor’s second drug-related offense, triggering a mandatory ban under anti-doping regulations.
Dom Taylor, a well-known figure in the darts world, faces a significant setback in his career following a disciplinary ruling by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA). The Authority confirmed a **six-month ban** from all darts events.
The Drug Test and Immediate Consequences
The suspension stems from a **positive drug test for both cocaine and cannabis** taken during the World Darts Championship. Even before the full ban was issued, Taylor faced immediate repercussions:
- **Forfeiture of his tour card**, meaning he can no longer participate in professional darts circuits.
- **Loss of £25,000 prize money** earned from his performance at the championship.
The disciplinary committee’s investigation clarified that the drug offenses **occurred before the tournament officially began**, not during the competition itself.
Why a Six-Month Ban? The ‘Second Offence’ Rule
The length of Taylor’s ban is directly linked to his history with anti-doping rules. This is **his second drug-related offense**, which automatically triggers a stricter penalty under the Darts Regulation Authority’s guidelines.
According to the DRA statement, the committee determined that “as this is Mr Taylor’s second offence, then under these Rules, he must serve a six month ban in line with 10.9 (a) and 10.9 (b) of UKAD Anti-Doping Rules 2021.” This means the DRA had little discretion in the length of the ban once the second offense was confirmed.
Taylor himself had previously acknowledged his actions, apologizing for “blatant lying” after his initial test failure led to his expulsion from the World Championship. Despite the looming issues, he had shown strong form, notably defeating Oskar Lukasiak 3-0 in the first round before his removal from the event.
A History of Violations: Taylor’s Past Suspension
This isn’t the first time Dom Taylor has faced consequences for drug test failures. He previously served a **one-month ban in 2025** (related to a test in November 2024) after a similar incident at the Players Championship Finals.
Significantly, that earlier ban was initially much longer—a proposed two years. However, it was **reduced to one month** after Taylor agreed to participate in a **three-month Substance Abuse treatment program** approved by UKAD (UK Anti-Doping). This history underscores the mandatory nature of the current six-month suspension, as he had already received a reduced sentence for a prior violation.
Source: Based on an article from Sky Sports – Sports News, Transfers, Scores | Watch Live Sport.
