Tensions between Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler have exploded just hours before their Premier League Darts semi-final showdown, with the Welshman formally urging the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) to conduct an immediate, unannounced doping test on the teenage world champion.
Price, 41, who faces the 19-year-old phenom at The O2 Arena tonight, did not hold back when asked about Littler’s recent performances.
“Look, I’m not accusing anyone of anything — yet,” Price told reporters. “But something feels off. The way he’s been scoring, the consistency, the stamina across long formats… it’s not normal for a kid his age. I’ve been in this game long enough to know when something doesn’t sit right.”
The former world champion, known for his fierce competitiveness and psychological edge, suggested the DRA should “surprise him — not a scheduled test, but a proper, out-of-nowhere knock on his hotel door at 7am.”
A rivalry reaches boiling point
The call comes amid an already volatile buildup to tonight’s match. Price has a narrow 7-6 winning record over Littler, but the teenager has won their last two encounters and finished at the top of the Premier League standings after a dominant 16-week campaign .
Price acknowledged his mental approach ahead of the match, telling talkSPORT: “I’m thinking I’m going to win. I’ve got a good record over young Luke, and he’ll be thinking about it more than I will” .
But his latest comments suggest the mind games have escalated far beyond the usual pre-match banter.
Darts’ growing doping shadow
Price’s request lands in a sensitive moment for the sport. Just last December, English player Dom Taylor was suspended from the World Championship following a positive doping test — his second infraction in just over a year .
Taylor, 27, tested positive during a test conducted on December 14, forcing his immediate withdrawal from the PDC World Darts Championship. He had previously served a one-month ban in late 2024, with sources at the time suggesting the substance involved was cocaine .
The DRA and PDC have since ramped up their anti-doping protocols, but critics say testing remains inconsistent compared to Olympic sports.
Price’s own health battles
The timing of Price’s accusation has raised eyebrows, given his own recent struggles. The Welshman has withdrawn from multiple events in recent months — including the World Cup of Darts and the UK Open Pool Championship — citing unspecified health issues .
Just yesterday, Price shared on Instagram that recent medical tests came back “all good,” though doctors have yet to identify the cause of his persistent symptoms .
“I’m not in a great place health-wise, but I’m battling on,” Price admitted after a heavy defeat to Jonny Clayton in Leeds earlier this month .
Some fans have questioned whether Price’s sudden focus on doping is a distraction tactic ahead of tonight’s high-stakes match. Others have praised him for speaking openly about a taboo subject in darts.
Littler camp responds
Littler’s representatives declined to comment officially, but a source close to the teenager dismissed Price’s remarks as “mind games from a player who knows he’s on the back foot.”
Littler himself has previously spoken of his rivalry with Price with measured calm. “I wouldn’t say I’m motivated to beat him — obviously I want to try and beat him, but I won’t go on stage saying to myself, ‘you need to win this'” .
Whether the DRA acts on Price’s request remains to be seen. A spokesperson told reporters: “All DRA anti-doping procedures are confidential. We do not comment on individual testing schedules or requests.”
The darting world will be watching — both the oche and the doping control officers.
