Dom Taylor free to resume darting career at Winmau World Masters as positive doping test gleams short ban

Monday, 27 January 2025 at 12:39

Dom Taylor will be free to resume his darting career as the new season begins this week at the Winmau World Masters taking place in Milton Keynes from Wednesday in the preliminary rounds.

Taylor tested positive back in late November after returning a positive sample for a banned substance. His case was subject to a full hearing before the DRA (Darts Regulatory Authority) and he admitted the breaches of the anti-doping rules.

Although he admitted to taking the substance, it was taken outside of competition meaning that initially the ban was two years. But when it could be shown that the substance is not performance enhancing, it reduces the ineligibility. In this case, it also is further reduced from three months if a Substance of Abuse treatment program is completed.

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As a result, Taylor who showed so much promise in his opening season on the PDC Tour will be free to continue having only served a one month ban. He missed the World Championship as a result of this late ban but will aim to make up for lost time this week in Milton Keynes.

This also means that he has a satisfactory end before the new ProTour season starts which would've likely seen Beau Greaves step up straight away to the tour if Taylor was banned or was awaiting a ban so couldn't play. But now he will and heads into the final year of his Tour Card this week.

A statement from the DRA came to the following conclusion: "In the circumstances, the Committee determined that Mr Taylor will be subject to a one-month ban. This is conditional on his completion of an appropriate UKAD approved treatment program. Should Mr Taylor not complete this course within the next four months, then the ban shall be extended by an additional two months. Mr Taylor should also be liable for the costs of these proceedings".

‼️It has been confirmed by the Darts Regulation Authority that Dom Taylor, who tested positive for a banned substance at a Players Championship event in November, has received a one month ban. #Darts pic.twitter.com/omZ1v0fk0F
— Tungsten Tales Darts (@Tungsten_Tales) January 27, 2025