DARTS stars have been warned to stop sneaking alcohol into events by the PDC.
Players have been threatened with the possibility of huge fines and even suspension if they are caught breaking the rules.
PDC players have been sent a firm statement by the organisation alleging that players have been caught sneaking alcohol into events inside water bottles and other containers.
The claims from the PDC refer to Players Championship events, otherwise known as floor tournaments.
Floor tournaments are played without a crowd and are often just the two players and the referee in a room by themselves when play is underway.
The issue has reached such a level that the PDC have consulted with both the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) and the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA), the sport’s governing body.
A statement sent to players read: “There has been an increase in the number of instances where players have been found to have brought alcohol into venues at floor events.
“This has been distinguished in water bottles and other containers.
“This is expressly forbidden and players have previously been notified that this is a breach of the Tournament Rules.
“The PDC have discussed this with the DRA and the PDPA and it has been decided that to deter such actions more robust sanctions are needed for players who are caught bringing alcohol into venues at events.
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“The new approach is to issue incremental fines for such breaches.”
Players have been told that they will be fined £250 for their first breach of the rules.
A second breach will see them have to fork out double that at £500 and a third will cost the players £1,000.
If a player is caught breaking the rules four times then they will be referred to the DRA Disciplinary Committee.
The committee with then decide their punishment, but the PDC have warned that there will be an “expectation of suspension”.
It was also confirmed that the counting of breaches would be reset at the end of each season.
Take a look at the punishments players will face is they breach the rules around sneaking alcohol into matches...
The counting of breaches will start again in each new season*
