Match-fixing is a potential problem in any professional sport but it seems to be most prevalent in individual athletic endeavors. The combination of life on the road and razor thin profit margins from competitions and sponsorship deals make match-fixing too big a temptation to pass up. That’s what happened to former professional darts players, Andy Jenkins.
Late last week the Darts Regulatory Authority (DRA) hit the 54-year-old former world darts champion with a 15-year ban from the sport for his role in fixing 12 Modus Super Series matches between 22 February 2002 and 5 July 2023, and for betting on 88 other matches. Jenkins will also be paying out a fine of £17,580 ($23,000 USD).
Gambling Commissioner Director of Enforcement, John Pierce commented on the actions in the Guardian saying, “If you fix matches, you are likely to be caught and face serious consequences. Betting customers in Britain deserve confidence that the markets they engage with are fair and free from corruption. Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit will continue to work closely with partners like the DRA to identify and prevent match-fixing.”
For his part, Jenkins denied most of the allegations that were lodged against him. He did admit to one charge of betting on darts.
The DRA has been very busy lately handing out sanctions and fines to players who can’t resist the temptations of match-fixing and betting on their own sport. Earlier this year the group handed down an eight-year ban to Prakash Jiwa for match-fixing and betting on darts.
Jenkins will not be eligible to play in DRA-sanctioned events until November of 2034.