Snooker match-fixing: Two given lifetime bans, Yan Bingtao suspended for five years among raft of punishments
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Updated 06/06/2023 at 16:59 GMT
The independent WPBSA Disciplinary Commission has handed out its punishments relating to the snooker match-fixing scandal, with two players - Liang Wenbo and Li Hang - given lifetime bans, and Yan Bingtao suspended for five years following early admissions and his plea of guilty. WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said it had been a "very complex case."
Liang Wenbo.
Image credit: Eurosport
Two players have been given lifetime bans among a raft of match-fixing punishments handed out by the independent WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) Disciplinary Commission.
Liang Wenbo and Li Hang are the two players to receive lifetime bans from the sport, while Yan Bingtao has been suspended for five years, a ban that was reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty.
Yan is a former Masters champion having won the triple crown event in the 2020-21 season. Zhao Xintong was given two year and six months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to one year and eight months. Zhao is a former UK Championship winner.
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "This has been a very complex case. It has been heart-breaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players.
"This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way.
"Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection.
"If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties.
“I am pleased that the Commission found that they did not see from the present case 'any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker'.
"The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today’s outcome sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in snooker.”
The case first began in August 2022 when the International Betting integrity Association (IBIA) issued an alert to the WPBSA Integrity Unit, with the latter beginning a detailed investigation into potential wrongdoing.
The case was then heard between 24-26 April in London, and on 3 May 2023.
FULL LIST OF BANS
Full list of bans is provided by WST.
- Liang Wenbo has been given a lifetime [ban] from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs.
- Li Hang has been given a lifetime [ban] from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs.
- Lu Ning has been given an 8 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years and 4 months until 6 April 2028. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Yan Bingtao has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and plea of guilty, to 5 years until 11 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Zhao Xintong has been given a 2 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 1 year and 8 months until 1 September 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Zhao Jianbo has been given a 3 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 4 months until 7 April 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Chang Bingyu has been given a 3 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years until 7 December 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Bai Langning has been given a 4 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 8 months until 6 August 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Chen Zifan has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years until 20 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
- Zhang Jiankang has been given a 4 year and 5 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 11 months until 1 December 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
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