BELGIAN Erik Clarys has given up hope of making a return to darts as a right-handed player, following an 11th operation on his badly broken elbow.
Clarys has been sidelined since last June, when a fall at work saw him shatter the elbow in his right arm - his throwing arm.
He has undergone a string of operations since in a bid to restore a full range of movement to the joint.
However, the elbow has not healed sufficiently following a recent 11th operation, and Clarys has now admitted he would not be able to throw with his right arm again.
The former World Masters winner, though, has begun throwing left-handed and could attempt to restart his career should he be able to achieve a sufficient standard with his "other" arm.
A fortnight's practice with his left arm has seen some improvement in form, and Clarys admitted: "I'm not giving up hope yet."