Professional darts player Dom Taylor has been officially stripped of his Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) tour card and a significant sum in prize money after failing a second drugs test. The 27-year-old from Bristol has also been banned from all PDC events.
Championship Suspension and Forfeited Prize Money
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) suspended Taylor from the ongoing World Darts Championship after receiving notification of an "adverse analytical finding" from a test conducted on 14 December. This came despite his 3-0 first-round victory over Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak, a match in which Taylor impressed with three ton-plus checkouts.
His immediate suspension meant he was removed from the tournament, forfeiting his scheduled second-round match against eventual quarter-finalist Jonny Clayton. As a direct consequence, Taylor has also lost the £25,000 in prize money he earned for his first-round win.
A Second Offence and Previous Suspension
This marks the second time Taylor has fallen foul of anti-doping rules. He previously served a one-month suspension in 2025 after a failed test at the Players Championship Finals. Following that first offence, his initial two-year penalty was reduced after he completed a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) approved three-month Substance of Abuse treatment programme.
The latest violation has had severe ranking implications. Taylor's removal from the World Championship caused him to plummet down the PDC Order of Merit, dropping outside the top 64. This position is crucial as it automatically secures a player a one-year tour card, which Taylor has now lost.
Public Apology and Disciplinary Process
In the wake of the test result, Taylor issued a public apology on his Facebook page. He expressed remorse to his family, friends, sponsors, management, and fans. Significantly, he apologised for "blatant lying" in a post-match interview following his win over Lukasiak, admitting he had been dishonest with himself and those around him.
The PDC confirmed the disciplinary process in a December statement, noting the DRA would handle the matter confidentially under its Anti-Doping Rules. As a result of Taylor's exit, Jonny Clayton received a bye directly into the third round of the championship.
Taylor's ban has had a ripple effect on the tour. Belgian player Mario Vandenbogaerde has retained his playing rights as a consequence of the reshuffle. The news emerges as the darts world takes a break after a record-breaking World Darts Championship, which saw Luke 'The Nuke' Littler defend his title and win a historic £1 million top prize, before players regroup for the Bahrain Darts Masters on 15 January.
