The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) is banning two professional dart players from official match play after both were found to have engaged in match-fixing. Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner are barred from DRA-sanctioned events for eight and ten years respectively for their roles in rigging matches and other charges.
Bennett was found guilty of fixing four matches at last year’s Modus Super Series. His infractions came to light after The International Betting Integrity Association reported suspicious betting activity surrounding his play at the event. At just 18 years of age, Bennett is one of the youngest players to be banned from any sport for match-fixing.
Despite Bennett’s youth and status as a prodigy, he’s been playing professionally since the age of 13, the DRA treated him like any other professional athlete accused of breaking professional sports’ cardinal sin. “For proven breaches of DRA rules relating to eight allegations in connection with the fixing of the results of four matches, one related to failing to assist an investigation, and one for signing a contract with an unregistered agent, Bennett is suspended from playing in or being involved in any way in any DRA regulated events for a total period of eight years,” the DRA said in a statement posted on its website.
Warriner, who caught a ten-year ban, was found guilty of a laundry list of charges that included match-fixing, betting on darts, providing insider information, organizing betting on darts, failing to cooperate with DRA investigators, threatening an opponent, and being abusive towards DRA officials.
Both men are believed to have acted alone and both will be fined £8,100 ($10,258 USD).