Dom Taylor has been handed a six-month suspension after failing a drugs test during the PDC World Championship

Dom Taylor has been banned for six months for failing a drugs test during the PDC World Championship in December.

A statement from the darts regulatory body confirmed that the 27-year-old admitted violating anti-doping rules.

At a hearing on 7 January, the DRA’s disciplinary committee said it was “satisfied that Taylor’s intake of both cocaine and cannabis occurred outside of competition and was not after the start of the World Championships”.

Taylor previously served a one-month ban after failing a drug test towards the end of 2024, and the punishment for his second offense is in line with the UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) rules.

England’s Taylor won his first round match against Oscar Lukasiak but news of a failed drug test and suspension was made public ahead of his scheduled second round match against Johnny Clayton.

As a result, Welshman Clayton, who was seeded fifth at Alexandra Palace, received a bye to the third round.

Taylor later posted on Facebook to say he was “deeply sorry” for his actions, that his mental health had been affected by a number of personal traumas and that he would “get the help” he needed.

As a result of these results, Taylor forfeited his £25,000 prize money for reaching the second round of the World Championship.

This means he falls out of the top 64 players in the PDC World Rankings, thus losing his PDC Tour card for 2026.