Dom Taylor has been banned for six months by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after failing a drugs test during the World Darts Championship. It comes after he tested positive for cocaine and cannabis during the tournament at Alexandra Palace. Taylor had already been banned from all Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events and made to forfeit his £25,000 prize money from the competition.

A hearing in front of a discplinary committee established that Taylor’s drug offence took place before the tournament. However, because it was his second offence, he was hit with a mandatory six-month ban under DRA rules. He has also lost his Tour Card, with that decision being made earlier this month.

A statement from the DRA read: “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.

“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 previously served a one-month ban in 2025 following a failed drugs test at the Players Championship Finals. His ban was reduced from two years after he agreed a UKAD-approved three-month Substance of Abuse treatment programme. 

After his failed test at the World Darts Championship, Taylor apologised for ‘blatant lying’ after he was thrown out of the tournament.

Taking to social media, he wrote: “The first thing I need to say is sorry! I am sorry to every single one of my family, friends, sponsors, management team and most of important of all, you guys, all my fans be it outside of darts or inside of darts, the game/sport I love the most.

“Also I need to apologise for blatant lying to you all in my interview after my win against Oskar [Lukasiak] last week, as I have been lying to myself and everyone else around me.

“I did complete and finish the course that I was required to do at the end of last/beginning of this year, along with everything else I was required to do and sanctions.”

Taylor went on to explain the trauma he suffered during his teen years, adding: “It is no excuse but all I can put it down to is the traumas I had in my early teen life.

“Finding my deceased nan in a bed at the age of 12, then within a year multiple other events happened including my brother having a heart attack and being non-responsive for 45 mins along with a very close friend dying of a brain tumour which all hit me very, very hard.

“My parents being the great parents they are got me counselling and help at the time but in hindsight I should of had more than just that little bit!!

“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. Not needing to worry about anything.”