Darts: Leading players banned

JOHN LOWE, the world champion, is among 16 leading players who have been suspended by the game's ruling body, the British Darts Organisation, for their part in forming a breakaway association.

The group, which also includes Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Bob Anderson and Keith Deller, are members of the recently formed World Professional Darts Players Association. The players signed a declaration at the World Championships at Frimley Green earlier this month that they would no longer recognise the authority of the BDO.

The players said they would play only under the flag of the World Darts Council which is aiming to raise prize-money and increase television coverage, and would boycott the 1994 world championships if the BDO was still in charge. The suspensions mean the players cannot compete in county, or Super League matches, tournaments and internationals which come under the jurisdiction of the BDO.