The roar of the crowd at Alexandra Palace abruptly fell silent for Dom Taylor. Just days after a triumphant opening-round victory at the World Darts Championship, his tournament – and potentially his career – hangs in the balance following a failed drugs test.
Taylor, who had convincingly defeated Oskar Lukasiak, was scheduled to face the formidable Jonny Clayton. That highly anticipated match is now off the table, replaced by a cloud of uncertainty and a swift suspension from all regulated events.
The news broke on Friday, revealing an “adverse analytical finding” from a test conducted on December 14th. The Darts Regulation Authority acted decisively, immediately removing Taylor from the competition while initiating a full disciplinary process.
This isn’t the first time Taylor has faced adversity. A previous two-year ban, handed down in November 2024, loomed large over his return to the championship. He’d described that initial suspension as the “biggest let down of my life,” a setback he claimed to have overcome.
The original ban was significantly reduced after it was determined the substance wasn’t performance-enhancing. Further leniency came with his agreement to a UK Anti-Doping approved treatment program, ultimately shortening the suspension to just one month.
Now, however, the situation feels starkly different. The details of the current adverse finding remain confidential, shrouded in the necessary protocols of the disciplinary process. The DRA has stated it will release no further comment until a conclusion is reached.
Jonny Clayton, Taylor’s would-be opponent, now receives a bye directly into the third round. The tournament continues, but the shadow of this unexpected development hangs over the remaining matches.
The focus now shifts to the unfolding investigation and the fate of a player who, just days ago, was experiencing the thrill of victory on the world’s biggest darts stage. The championship continues with Luke Littler, the current world number one, set to compete on Sunday.
