Darts star Dom Taylor has been suspended for six months after failing a drugs test at the PDC World Championship last month.
Taylor, 27, had won his first match at the tournament but was immediately suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
The Bristol-born star had previously served a one-month ban following a failed drugs test towards the end of 2024.
The Darts Regulation Authority confirmed Taylor had admitted to the breach at a hearing on January 7.
A committee ruled accepted that Taylor had ingested the prohibited substance out of competition, with a six-month sanction in line with UK Anti-Doping’s rules.
‘Accordingly, and taking into account all of the available evidence, the Committee were satisfied that Mr Taylor’s ingestion of both cocaine and cannabis occurred out of competition and was not following the commencement of the World Championship on 11th December 2025,’ a statement read.
Darts star Dom Taylor has been hit with a six-month ban following his failed drugs test at the PDC World Championships last month
‘Following on from this finding, the Committee has 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’.
Taylor was required to forfeit his £25,000 prize money from winning his opening match at the World Championships.
As a result, Taylor moved down the ranking list and has lost his PDC Tour Card. The 27-year-old was ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings.
Taylor had apologised for the failed drugs test on social media last month, revealing how a succession of family traumas resulted in him turning to ‘substances’.
‘The first thing I need to say is sorry!!,’ Taylor began. ‘I’m sorry to every single one of my family, friends, sponsors, management team and most important of all, you guys. All my fans, be it outside of darts or inside of darts.
‘Also, I need to apologise for blatant lying to you all in my interview after my win against Oskar last week, as I have been lying to myself and everyone around me.
‘It is no excuse but all I can put it down to are the traumas I had in my early teen life, finding my deceased nan in bed at the age of 12. Then, within a year, multiple other events happened including my brother having a heart attack and being non-response for 45 minutes, along with a very close friend dying of a brain tumour, which all hit me very, very hard.’
He continued: ‘My parents being the great parents they are, got me counselling and help at the time but in hindsight I should have had more than just that little bit.
Taylor released a lengthy post on his Facebook account apologising for the failed test last month
‘I have let many people down to say the least but most importantly I’ve let down four main people, my two daughters and my two biggest fans. My grampy passed before I made it. All I’ve ever wanted was just to make everyone proud, which I hope I have done until this moment.
‘I know everyone, including my dad and family, are very upset and disappointed in me. The anniversary of my daughter’s death this year hit me very hard, too, and that’s when I started struggling with my mental health again, and turned back to substances to allow my body and head cope with things.’
Taylor had previously completed a ‘Substance of Abuse treatment program’, which led to his first ban being reduced from three months to one.
He explained that would seek help after his latest positive test: ‘I now know that I should have spoken to someone, be it my management, family or the PDPA.
‘I am sincerely sorry to everyone and I will be getting the help I need. Thank you to you all for your support and we will see you again in time to come because I will be back to prove. I am sorry to you all.’
