Dom Taylor kicked out of World Championship after failing drugs test

Britain's Dom Taylor has been suspended ​from the World Darts Championship after failing a drug test, the Darts ‍Regulation Authority (DRA) said on Friday, handing opponent Jonny Clayton a free pass ‍to the third round.

The DRA, the governing body of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), said Taylor returned an adverse analytical finding from a test ‌conducted on December 14, one day before the tournament got underway ⁠at Alexandra Palace.

"As a result of this and in ‌line ​with ‍relevant DRA processes, Dom Taylor has been suspended from participating in any DRA regulated events with immediate effect," the DRA said in ⁠a statement.

"This matter will now be the subject of a ⁠disciplinary process in line with ⁠the relevant DRA Anti-Doping Rules."

Taylor beat Oskar Lukasiak to move into the second round, and ‍he was scheduled to face Clayton, who will now receive a bye through to the third round.

The suspension marks the second time Taylor has failed a drugs test. He was banned for a month by the DRA in January for a failed ‌drugs test in ‌November last year.

That suspension came during the Players Championship Finals and led to him missing the World ‌Championship.

He was in line to receive a two-year ban, but it ⁠was reduced as the substance was not performance-enhancing and was taken outside of competition. - Reuters