Raymond van Barneveld, a five‑time world champion, has been hit with both a fine and a suspension by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after being found guilty of inappropriate conduct and the use of offensive language. The DRA, the autonomous organization that oversees the governance of professional darts across the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), World Darts Federation (WDF), Modus, and the Amateur Darts Circuit (ADC), released an updated case register – the first such publication since 2022 – that details every disciplinary hearing that has been back‑dated from January 2023 through June 2026.
The list captures a range of incidents that occurred during both televised tournaments and behind‑the‑scenes events. Among the names appearing in the register are former champions Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Luke Humphries and, of course, Van Barneveld himself, as well as players such as Cameron Menzies and Dom Taylor. The DRA’s decision to make the information publicly accessible is intended to promote transparency and to remind all competitors that the governing body will enforce its code of conduct consistently.
Van Barneveld’s record in the register includes two separate entries. The first entry relates to an episode at the Players Championship 2 tournament in Wigan last year, where officials determined that he had engaged in "inappropriate behaviour and used offensive language" toward officials and possibly fellow competitors. The sanction for that breach was a three‑month suspension, which will be served on a suspended‑for‑12‑months basis, and a monetary penalty of £3,000. The second entry concerns an unrelated matter that occurred after a Players Championship event in Germany.
In that case the DRA concluded that Van Barneveld failed to report damage that had been caused to his hotel room. Rather than imposing a fine or a suspension, the authority issued a formal warning, reminding the player of his duty to report any property damage that occurs during a competition week. Van Barneveld, often affectionately referred to as "Barney," is widely regarded as one of the greatest darts players in history.
He captured the BDO World Championship at the Lakeside venue four times – in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005 – before making the switch to the PDC in 2006. His most iconic moment came in 2007 when he won the PDC World Championship, defeating the legendary Phil "The Power" Taylor in a final that is still talked about by fans today. The DRA’s case list also details the punishment handed to Cameron Menzies for an outburst at the World Championship in December. Menzies, a Scottish player, was given a four‑month suspension that concluded last month, along with a £2,500 fine after he repeatedly punched the underside of the drinks table on stage in a fit of frustration following a loss to Charlie Manby.
The incident left blood on his knuckles, which he wiped on his face before exiting the arena. Menzies later issued a public apology, explaining that personal stress – including the recent death of his uncle Gary – had contributed to his emotional reaction, though he stressed that this did not excuse his behaviour. Another high‑profile case involves Phil Taylor, whose failed drug test at the World Championship triggered a six‑month ban that runs until 18 June, a £1,275 cost penalty, and the forfeiture of his £25,000 prize money.
The DRA confirmed that Taylor tested positive for both cocaine and cannabis, marking a second offence that automatically invoked a six‑month suspension under the UK Anti‑Doping (UKAD) rules. The authority clarified that the substances were consumed out of competition and prior to the start of the championship on 11 December 2025, but the rules still required the sanction. As a result, Taylor also lost his Tour Card. Taylor’s drug‑related troubles are not his only disciplinary woes.
He previously served a one‑month ban in 2025 after a positive test at the Players Championship Finals in November 2024. That ban was originally set at two years but was reduced after he agreed to complete a three‑month UKAD‑approved substance‑abuse treatment programme. The register also lists severe penalties for match‑fixing offences.
Both Prakash Jiwa and Andy Jenkins were handed substantial bans and were ordered to cover more than £17,000 in costs after being found guilty of manipulating results in the Modus Super Series between 2022 and 2023. These cases underscore the DRA’s zero‑tolerance stance on integrity violations.
Beyond the disciplinary updates, the announcement includes reminders for darts fans about upcoming broadcast options. Sky Sports continues to air live darts, and the platform NOW offers streaming of highlights, podcasts such as "Love the Darts," and other related content.
Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for an optimal video player experience. Looking ahead, the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix will see world number 1 Luke Littler defending his title, with the tournament slated for live coverage on Sky Sports.
As the sport moves forward, the DRA’s publication of its case list serves both as a cautionary tale for players and as a reassurance to supporters that the game is being policed fairly and transparently.