DRA disciplinary cases revealed for 2019 season
The Darts Regulation Authority has released its hearing outcomes for the 2019 PDC season, with several top players having been landed with fines.
The DRA is the PDC’s governing body which oversees disciplinary matters, as well as anti-doping and anti-corruption with the sport.
Chaired by an independent panel, the DRA has the authority to issue warnings and fines, as well as suspensions and bans depending on the severity of rule breaches.
The DRA released its full list of cases for last season on Tuesday, covering 48 separate incidents across the various PDC and DPA systems.
The most high-profile case saw Gerwyn Price fined £21,500 last January for ‘gamesmanship’ in two matches at the 2018 Grand Slam and inappropriate use of social media.
The fine, a record for a professional darts player, was later reduced to £11,500 on appeal.
James Wade was fined £5,000 and handed a three-month suspended suspension last January for ‘aggressive behaviour’ during and after his win over Japan’s Seigo Asada at the 2018/19 World Championship.
Daryl Gurney was handed a £1,500 fine for the same rule breach during his heated Unibet Premier League clash with Gerwyn Price in May.
Wade was also fined a total of £750 for two late withdrawals from tournaments, while Rob Cross was fined £250 for one instance of the same rule breach.
Andy Jenkins was fined £1,000 and handed a three-month suspension (suspended for six months) for swearing at an official and using homophobic language.
William O’Connor was fined £500 for using offensive language during the 2018/19 World Championship, while Mickey Mansell was controversially fined the same amount for ‘not playing to the best of his ability’ in the same event.
Several players received formal warnings for using their mobile phones in the playing area at tour events, while a number of players were fined for failing to mark at a tour event.
Danny van Klompenburg received a six-month suspension in March relating to an incident in which he attacked Jimmy Hendriks at a European Tour qualifier.
The first disciplinary case of 2020 saw Nathan Richards fined £400 for ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and bringing alcohol into the venue at Q School.
Richards has since set up a GoFundMe page in an effort to pay off his fine.
