English darts player Dom Taylor has received a six month suspension from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) having failed drug testing in the midst of the recently concluded World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace.
Taylor was ejected from the race for the Sid Waddell Trophy after traces of Cannabis and Cocaine were found in samples submitted by the player following his first round victory.
That in itself would be bombshell enough in a sport like darts, but, that it was the lad’s second such sanction ratchets things up like a washing machine on spin cycle.
Now, there have been those, who, in the wake of Taylor’s suspension, would contend that the suspension doesn’t go far enough.
Perhaps they have a point. Especially in view of the fact that it was the player’s second strike so to speak. However, I would take a slightly different view.
Some may never be able to grasp this, or plainly just don’t want to, but, an addiction of any sort is an illness and needs to be treated as such. Not as some sort of punishable act of deliberate wrong doing.
It doesn’t matter whether its drink or drugs or gambling or anything else. It’s help a person in that position needs, not admonishment.
You’d hope Taylor gets the help and support he needs because his talent on the oche is obvious.
Leave a Reply