Players Championship Finals darts star suspended after failing drugs test just hours before facing Michael Smith

A DARTS star has been suspended after failing a drugs test on the eve of the Players Championship Finals.

Dom Taylor was scheduled to take on former world champion Michael Smith but will not be taking part in the tournament.

He took a drugs test before the tournament and it returned a positive sample for a banned substance.

Taylor, 26, will be replaced by Nick Kenny, who faces Smith later this evening.

A PDC statement read: “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“As a result, Taylor has been withdrawn from the Players Championship Finals and will be replaced in the draw by Nick Kenny, who will now play Michael Smith on Friday evening.”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 joined the PDC Tour this year after coming through Qualfying School in January.

He secured a two-year Tour Card and reached the quarter-finals of a Players Championship event last month.

Taylor qualified for the Players Championship Finals and World Championship thanks to his form on the European Tour.

But his involvement at Ally Pally is now in doubt as the PDC consider his position.