Chinese snooker players suspended by WPBSA amid match-fixing investigation

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The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) made a statement on Friday that Chinese players Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng were suspended from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour over match-fixing allegations.

The decision was made after the WPBSA Integrity Unit and Sportradar Integrity Services had worked together to investigate all alleged breaches of rules by the two players, said the governing body on its official website.

Snooker has been no stranger to match-fixing. /VCG Photo

This is the first time for Chinese players to be suspended by WPBSA. Yu Delu was suspected of manipulating the outcome of five matches he attended since 2015 and betting on snooker. He also failed to report to WPBSA about being asked to fix two matches.

Cao Yupeng was alleged to manipulate the outcome of three matches in 2016. Both of them also "failed to fully cooperate with the WPBSA inquiry."

"The decision to suspend any player immediately is a difficult decision to take. However, the WPBSA has a duty of care to ensure that snooker’s global integrity is securely preserved, therefore my decision today is to remove any question marks over the sport during the time it takes to bring these matters to formal proceedings," said Jason Ferguson, chairman of the WPBSA.

Ronnie O'Sullivan said that many in the snooker world have been involved in fixing matches. /VCG Photo

WPBSA Disciplinary Committee will hold a formal hearing at a venue and date to be confirmed for the matter. The suspension will not be dropped until the hearing or hearings reach a conclusion of the cases and determine the nature. Both Yu and Cao maintain the right to appeal the decision.

In response, Chinese Billiards & Snooker Association announced on Saturday that Yu and Cao are suspended from attending any domestic billiard game in China from Saturday. The Association also said that it will make further decision based on results of WPBSA hearing and its relevant rules and regulations.

British snooker player Stephen Lee caused the biggest scandal of the sport in 2013 when he was suspended for 12 years for manipulating seven matches. /VCG Photo

Snooker has been suffering from match-fixing. Ronnie O'Sullivan wrote in 2013 in his biography that he was offered 26,000 US dollars for match-manipulating. He also mentioned on social network that many in the snooker world have been involved in fixing matches before he was fined over 10,000 dollars for the speech.

British snooker player Stephen Lee caused the biggest scandal of the sport in 2013 when he was suspended for 12 years for manipulating seven matches. He worked with three betting groups that put over money on him before they made around 129,000 dollars in return.