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Darts star Rusty-Jake Rodriguez has been provisionally suspended after failing a doping test. The 24-year-old was randomly tested during Players Championship 24 in August, and the results have come back abnormal. Following the test results, the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) immediately acted to provisionally ban Rodriguez from playing or attending any upcoming events.
As per the DRA disciplinary regulations, an interim measure is standard procedure for situations like this. Rodriguez will remain suspended until a full investigation and subsequent disciplinary proceedings have been completed. The Austrian could face further sanctions depending on the outcome. He has the right to appeal the suspension.
According to DRA rules, Rodriguez can challenge the validity of the test and the decision to provisionally suspend him. No further information is expected to be released until the investigation concludes.
Rodriguez - also known by his 'RJR3' nickname has been on the PDC circuit for several years, first competing in the PDC World Youth Championship as a teenager before making his World Championship debut in 2022.
He is currently the world No.138 after winning his tour card back at the start of the year. The Vienna-born thrower missed the most recent World Championship after failing to qualify but back in 2022 did threaten to beat Chris Dobey in the second round before losing 3-2.
Rusty-Jake lost 3-0 to Cameron Menzies in the first round of 2024, his only other appearance at Ally Pally to date.
Rodriguez has two brothers who are also in the realm of darts. His older sibling Rowby-John reaching the second round at Ally Pally twice and lost 3-0 to Luke Humphries in 2022.
His other brother, Roxy-James, played on the PDC Tour between 2014 and 2018 before he returned to play in the WDF.