Darter Adam Smith-Neale suspended for eight months after punching opponent in face

The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has handed PDC darts player Adam Smith-Neale an eight-month suspension for misconduct at a local tournament in Nuneaton.

The 30-year-old made negative headlines in March after footage showed him punching his opponent after losing a match.

The disciplinary committee suspended Smith-Neale effective immediately, but a ruling has only now come out. During the hearing, Smith-Neale acknowledged the charges against him and claimed that he felt threatened by his opponent and that this threat prompted his misconduct. This statement was not fully accepted by the committee.

The commission announced its written decision and the sanction imposed is that Smith-Neale will be banned from playing or being involved in any way in DRA-sanctioned events for a period of eight months. This ban will be retroactive to March 12, 2024, the date of his original suspension by the DRA. This means Smith-Neale cannot play or participate in events until Nov. 12, 2024.

Because the suspension was retroactive, Smith-Neale may still hope to participate in the PDC World Darts Championship. The darter from Coventry holds a PDC Tour Card, but this Tour Card has not been taken away from him by the PDC or the DRA. On Monday, Nov. 25, all Tour Card holders who have not yet qualified for the PDC World Darts Championship will get another chance to secure a spot at a qualifying tournament. Since Smith-Neale's suspension will have ended by then, he will be able to compete in this.

Smith-Neale has been in the negative spotlight more often in the past. He once broke his leg in a drunken state prior to a BDO tournament in Italy, and later appeared at the tournament on crutches. Facebook is also raining complaints that Smith-Neale allegedly ripped off many fans.