Lee's Snooker fixing ban upheld

Englishman Stephen Lee remains banned from pro snooker until October 2024, having failed in his appeal against punishment for match fixing.

Stephen Lee has failed in an appeal to overturn his 12-year ban from snooker, officials announced on Thursday.

The 39-year-old Englishman, a former world number five, was banned after being found guilty of match and spot fixing in relation to seven matches from 2008-09 following a tribunal hearing in September.

Thursday's statement from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, the sport's governing body, said Nicholas Stewart, a senior English lawyer sitting as the appeals committee, had dismissed Lee's appeal.

Stewart also increased the costs order against Lee in relation to the original hearing from STG40,000 ($A73,000) to STG75,000 ($A137,000).

Lee cannot play professional snooker again before October 12, 2024.

Nigel Mawer, chairman of the WPBSA's disciplinary committee, told Sky Sports News: "There's a degree of sadness because Stephen Lee was a fantastic player and he's thrown it all away through greed and getting involved in match-fixing.

"Basically, as a result of that, he's now finished with snooker. He's banned now until he's 50 years of age, he's exhausted all avenues of appeal."

Mawer confirmed that while the WPBSA had initially held out for a life ban for Lee, the sport's governing body was content with the sanction handed down.


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Source: AAP

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