Michael Smith’s opponent Dominic Taylor will no longer compete at the Players Championship after failing a drugs test.
Taylor was set to step up to the oche on the opening day of the Players Championships finals against British star Smith at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
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It was due to take place in the evening session of the event, but the rising star has now been withdrawn from the match.
The PDC have released the following statement: “The Darts Regulation Authority has suspended Dominic Taylor following the failure of a drugs test.”
Taylor was tested at a recent Players Championship event and returned a positive sample for a banned substance.
The Chairman of the DRA has confirmed that Taylor is suspended with immediate effect and will face a disciplinary hearing on a date to be confirmed.
“As a result, Taylor has been withdrawn from the Players Championship Finals and will be replaced in the draw by Nick Kenny, who will now play Michael Smith on Friday evening.”
Taylor at his peak last year claimed a PDC Challenge Tour title, and claimed his PDC Tour Card via Q-school, where he was set to feature for the next two years.
He has played in a number of European staged events this year, and qualified for the Players Championships finals after performing well throughout the campaign.
The Bristol-based talent was also set to appear at the latest edition of the hallmark World Championships at Alexandra Palace in December this year.
But his participation will now surely be in doubt pending further enquiry, with his disciplinary hearing date yet to be decided.
Smith will be hoping to perform well at this weekend’s event to gain some momentum going into a pivotal period of the year for any darts’ player.
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He will need to reverse his recent form, after suffering a whitewash 5-0 exit to rising prodigy Mike De Decker.
‘Bully Boy’ didn’t even get a shot at a double in the match, and it was a devastating early exit, with rival Luke Littler going on to win the tournament.
Littler had then piled the pressure on the former world champion, who is facing a difficult period.
“I’ve already gone up three places,” Littler said.
“But obviously the eyes are on Michael Smith. He’s defending a lot of money.
“He’s under pressure, especially defending the World Championship this year.”
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Smith is currently third on the PDC Order of Merit, having banked a mammoth £886,000 in prize money.
But he has faced a recent slide down the live rankings, after failing to defend the Grand Slam title that he picked up in 2022.
Stakes couldn’t get higher as the end of the year approaches, with another £500,000 on the line to lift the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy this year.
He will be looking to defend the prestigious title he claimed in a famous win over Michael Van Gerwen in 2023, where he hit an incredible nine-dart finish.
The St Helens native will discover his opponent for the opening round of the tournament on Monday, just hours after the conclusion of the Players Championship.
He will hope for a favourable draw with a star-studded row of talent looking to steal his thunder at Ally Pally.