Austrian darts player Rusty-Jake Rodriguez has been excluded from all PDC events following a positive test. He is now returning.
Austrian darts professional Rusty-Jake Rodriguez is returning to the PDC stage after his doping ban has expired.
Rodriguez tested positive during a random control on August 25 at the Players Championship 24. The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) subsequently imposed a provisional ban, prohibiting the Austrian from participating in tournaments indefinitely.
Now all uncertainties have been resolved, as Rodriguez wrote: “The matter has been thoroughly clarified, existing misunderstandings and issues have been resolved – also thanks to the fair and constructive cooperation with the DRA.”
The Viennese player expressed relief: “Now I am looking forward again – at the board, at the next challenges, at what is to come.”
As the DRA announced on its website, the intake of the prohibited substance occurred outside of competition, which is why a one-month ban was ultimately imposed as a sanction.
Rodriguez must also participate in a program approved by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) within the next three months, otherwise he faces an additional two-month ban.
For the upcoming 2026 Darts World Championship (starting December 11 LIVE on SPORT1 ), Rodriguez has not yet qualified. The Tour Card holder failed in the second round during his first participation in 2022.