Darts player Dom Taylor has publicly apologized for being dishonest about his drug use and shared his heartfelt reflections, which also included the tragic passing of his daughter. The 27-year-old posted a detailed statement on Facebook after being disqualified from the PDC World Championship recently.
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) disclosed that Taylor had tested positive for drugs on December 14 and was consequently banned from the tournament. Hailing from Bristol, Taylor had triumphed over Oskar Lukasiak with a 3-0 victory, earning a prize of £25,000.
Following his suspension, Taylor’s prize money was withheld, and his second-round opponent, Jonny Clayton, received a bye to the next round due to the circumstances around Christmas. Taylor took to social media to express regret for his behavior, just a year after a previous drug test failure before the 2025 Ally Pally tournament.
In his statement, Taylor expressed profound apologies to his family, friends, sponsors, and fans for his misleading comments after his match against Lukasiak. He admitted that the recent events were a result of personal struggles, including traumatic experiences from his teenage years, such as finding his deceased grandmother and other challenging incidents.
Despite completing the required program following his previous suspension, Taylor revealed that he turned to substances again to cope with emotional distress, especially triggered by the anniversary of his daughter’s death. He acknowledged the need for professional help and pledged to seek support after the holiday season.
Taylor emphasized the importance of seeking assistance and regretted not reaching out earlier to his support system. He also mentioned missing his uncle’s funeral due to a tournament commitment, highlighting the toll of balancing personal challenges with professional responsibilities. Taylor expressed genuine remorse, sought forgiveness, and vowed to return stronger after addressing his issues.