Dom Taylor has been suspended from the PDC World Darts Championship after failing a drug test, the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) announced on Friday. The suspension means his scheduled second-round opponent, Jonny Clayton, receives a bye into the third round at Alexandra Palace.
The DRA stated that Taylor returned an adverse analytical finding from a test conducted on 14 December, the day before the tournament began. As a result, he has been suspended from all DRA-regulated events with immediate effect, pending a disciplinary process under the relevant anti-doping rules.
This is Taylor's second failed drugs test. He was banned for a month in January after a positive test in November last year, which caused him to miss the World Championship. That ban was reduced from two years as the substance was deemed not performance-enhancing and was taken outside of competition.
In other action, Beau Greaves narrowly missed her first World Championship win, losing 3-2 to Daryl Gurney. The 21-year-old from Doncaster hit a 10-dart leg to level the match, but Gurney's 144 checkout proved decisive. Gurney praised Greaves, calling her 'the best woman dart player on the planet.'
William O'Connor defeated Krzysztof Kciuk 3-0 with a 102.3 average to set up a match with Michael van Gerwen. Josh Rock overcame Gemma Hayter 3-1, while Lenny Gates beat Mickey Mansell 3-2. Ryan Meikle and Kevin Doets also advanced with victories over Jesus Salate and Matthew Dennant, respectively.
