Dom Taylor handed six-month ban for failed drugs test at the World Darts Championship

Dom Taylor has been handed a six-month suspension after failing a drugs test at the World Darts Championship.

Taylor was subject to a random test following his straight sets win over Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak in the first round at Alexandra Palace on December 14.

The DRA confirmed that the 27-year-old had returned an ‘adverse analytical finding’, which led him to be removed from the competition ahead of his scheduled second round tie with Jonny Clayton.

A hearing took place on January 7 and the DRA has now confirmed Taylor breached anti-doping rules and has been issued with a six-month suspension, as well as being ordered to cover the cost of proceedings.

However, the DRA Disciplinary Committee said it was “satisfied that Taylor’s ingestion of both cocaine and cannabis occurred outside of competition and was not following the commencement of the World Championship”.

As a result, Taylor will forfeit his £25,000 prize money earned at the World Darts Championship and consequently drops outside of the world’s top 64, losing his PDC Tour Card.

Taylor was handed a one-month suspension in November 2024 after returning a positive sample for a banned substance during a Players Championship event, missing out on both the Players Championship Finals and 2024/25 World Championship.

He returned to PDC competition in January 2025 and following his first round win at Ally Pally, Taylor described last year’s failed drugs test as “the biggest let down” of his life.

Following the news of his second failed drugs test, the Bristolian issued a lengthy statement on social media, apologising for his actions and citing personal issues.