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The Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has confirmed that it will uphold the lifetime bans imposed on Liang Wenbo and Li Hang for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal following a five-month investigation into the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal. The association has also given five other players longer suspensions for domestic matches.
The International Betting Integrity Association became aware of wrongdoing in August 2022 and a detailed investigation was carried out by the WPBSA Integrity Unit and Sportradar. Liang was found to have "fixed or been a party to fix five snooker matches" between July 24 and September 28, 2022. Li has been found to be in breach of the regulations as he fixed or was a party to fix five snooker matches between July 24 and September 29, 2022.
2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao, who received a five-year ban from the WPBSA earlier this month, was banned from all domestic events and activities for seven and a half years. Zhao Xintong was banned for a year and eight months by the world governing body for his involvement but has been given an additional 10-month ban by the CBSA.
Lu Ning had his ban increased to eight years, Bai Langning to four years, and Zhang Jiankang to four years and five months. A total of 10 players were banned for offenses including fixing and betting on matches, persuading or encouraging other players to cheat, and manipulating games.
