Darts player banned for eight years for match-fixing

Northern Ireland’s Kyle McKinstry was found guilty of fixing a match played in April.

UK.- The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has banned Northern Irish professional Kyle McKinstry after finding him guilty of fixing two matches held in the Modus A Night at the Darts series in April and May.

On May 1, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) informed the DRA of suspicious betting activity on a match held the previous day, in which McKinstry lost 5-0 to David Evans.

Two days later, the IBIA reported suspicious betting activity on a match against Wessel Nijman.

The reports provoked a DRA investigation in conjunction with Sportradar Integrity Services, the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, the Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Gambling Regulator and individual operators.

At a hearing on October 17, McKinstry admitted fixing the match on April 30 but denied the second charge. However the DRA found McKinstry guilty on both charges and on a third charge of failing to cooperate with the investigation by not producing an itemised phone bill as requested.

McKinstry was banned for 6.5 years for the two charges of match-fixing and a further 18 months for failing to cooperate. He must also pay costs of £4,730.64.

DRA chairman Nigel Mawer said: “This shows that any player found guilty of match fixing at any level of the sport will be caught and will face a lengthy ban. 

“The specific suspension for failing to produce itemised phone billing is welcomed, as the requirement for co-operation from players is an important part of any DRA investigation.”

Earlier this week, Bulgarian tennis player Aleksandrina Naydenova received a lifetime ban after a Tennis Integrity Unit investigation into match-fixing.