Richie Burnett has qualified for the PDC World Championship for the first time in eight years after serving a ban for testing positive for cocaine.
Nicknamed 'The Prince of Wales' the 55-year-old, from Rhondda, won the British Darts Organisation version of the crown 27 years ago. Burnett was given an 18-month ban from the sport after failing a doping test at a Grand Slam of Darts qualifier in Wigan in 2014.
Burnett will now return to the world championship after sealing his place through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier. He will face Adam Gawlas in the first round at Alexander Palace with the winner facing 16th seed Ryan Searle.
Burnett appealed against his ban, which is backdated to November 2014, but UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) upheld their original decision. UKAD revealed that Burnett did have his ban trimmed from two years by six months after his 'mitigating evidence' to a tribunal hearing.
At the time UKAD legal director Graham Arthur said: “All athletes must adhere to the principle of strict liability. No matter what the circumstances, they are solely responsible for any banned substance found in their system.”
Burnett was quarter-finalist in the PDC World Championship in both the 2002 and 2003 events and was also runner-up of the World Matchplay some 21 years ago.
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Since serving his ban Burnett has been quiet on the darts scene returning to the Pro Tour in 2017 but failing to reach any European Tour events. However, next month he will again grace the biggest stages in darts again hoping to progress and face the likes of Michael Van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price or reigning champion Peter Wright.
The PDC World Champion begins with first round matches being played from December 15 with 96 players competing for a first prize of £500,000.
During his prime Burnett was referred to as the Frank Spencer of darts due to the amount of mishaps he has suffered.
Speaking 10 years ago he said: " To call me absentminded doesn't really cover it - there have been so many stupid incidents down the years, my brain just doesn't seem to work like other people's.
''I've been on the way back for a couple of years now, but things never seem to go smoothly for me."
