Snooker players: Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng given lengthy bans after pleading guilty to match-fixing

Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng are the first snooker players to be found guilty for corruption in China. Both players have been banned from the sport after admitting to fixing a combined 8 matches.

Yu, 31, was found to have engaged in corruption for financial gain for himself and associates, and was also found guilty of lying, failing to cooperate and betting on snooker. He has been banned for 10 years and nine months.

Cao, who is ranked 44 in the world, has been banned for six years although three and a half years of his punishment are suspended. He was found to have fixed three different matches.

Yu and Cao were charged in May and two hearings were held to examine the evidence before a three-person independent tribunal took place. The investigation was carried out by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

WPBSA Chairman, Jason Ferguson commented,  “The WPBSA has very effective prevention and monitoring processes that protect the sport. Where players ignore this, they risk their careers and they will be caught.”