Chen Zifan has become the eighth Chinese player to be suspended from the World Snooker Tour as part of a match-fixing investigation by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on Friday.
The ban on 27-year-old Chen, the world No. 93, takes effect immediately and is to remain in place until the investigation is concluded.
Chen, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 76 last year, has the right to appeal the decision.
Photo: AP
Earlier this month, officials announced that former Masters champion Yan Bingtao had also been suspended.
The Chinese world No. 16 has been banned from attending or competing at events with immediate effect as the WPBSA looks into allegations that matches were manipulated for gambling purposes.
Five other Chinese players — Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu — were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, with compatriot Liang Wenbo banned in October.
“WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Chen Zifan from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect,” the association said in a statement. “This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations.”
“The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought... No further comment will be made except in the event of any significant further developments,” the WPBSA said.
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