5 more Chinese snooker players suspended amid match-fixing probe

Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu banned from attending or competing at World Snooker Tour events

Players are suspended until conclusion of a probe into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes

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Lu Ning of China reacts in a first-round match against Jack Lisowski of England on day three of the 2022 Cazoo British Open at Marshall Arena on September 28, 2022 in Milton Keynes, England. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 3:24pm, 10 Dec 2022Updated: 3:29pm, 10 Dec 2022

Five more Chinese players have been suspended from the World Snooker Tour amid an ongoing match-fixing investigation.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) said on Friday that it had banned Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing at events with immediate effect.

They will be suspended until the conclusion of an investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes.

Snooker’s governing body said that the players have a right to appeal the decision, amid what is the biggest such investigation in the history of the sport.

The WPBSA said the suspensions were linked to the banning of China’s Liang Wenbo in October, for unspecified “allegations of misconduct”.

Liang Wenbo plays a shot during the Betfred World Snooker Championship against Neil Robertson at Crucible Theatre on April 17, 2021 in Sheffield, England. Photo: Getty Images

“A subsequent investigation … remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations,” the organisation said in a statement.

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