Darts Player Prakash Jiwa Banned for Eight Years Over Match-Fixing and Betting

A major match-fixing scandal has rocked the world of professional darts. English-Indian darts player Prakash Jiwa received an eight-year ban after being found guilty of manipulating matches and betting on the sport. The ruling, issued by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) and supported by the UK Gambling Commission, prohibits Jiwa from competing in any DRA-sanctioned events until November 2031.

Investigation Uncovers Suspicious Betting Activity

The investigation into Jiwa’s activities began after the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) raised an alert regarding suspicious betting patterns on his matches. This led to an immediate suspension from competition and a deeper probe into his performances. The DRA discovered that two individuals linked to Jiwa had wagered a total of £2,752 on four matches involving him. In stark contrast, these individuals had placed only £83 in bets on matches not featuring Jiwa.

The flagged matches included losses to Owen Bates (4-0) on 16 February 2023, Adam Hunt (4-0) on 17 February, Peter Hudson (4-1) on 1 June, and Willie Borland (4-1) on the same day. During an independent assessment conducted by former professional darts player Ritchie Gardner, Jiwa’s underwhelming performances were deemed highly concerning. Gardner noted that Jiwa’s repeated poor finishes were well below his usual standard. Dismissing any notion that these performances were merely an off day.

WhatsApp Messages and Deleted Records Raise Red Flags

Further investigation revealed damning evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages between the two individuals who placed the suspicious bets. These messages referenced “dodgy” betting patterns and included discussions about stopping their activity following Jiwa’s suspension. When questioned, Jiwa denied any involvement. However, investigators later discovered that he had deleted key messages on his phone dating back to before his suspension.

The DRA also found phone records of calls between Jiwa and one of the individuals under investigation. Upon further scrutiny, Jiwa admitted to placing bets on darts matches, including through one of the individuals linked to the suspicious wagers. He also confessed to deleting 10-15 messages that discussed betting-related matters.

Guilty Verdict and Heavy Sanctions

In January 2024, the DRA conducted a disciplinary hearing in which Jiwa was charged with four counts of match-fixing. One count of obstructing the investigation and one count of betting on darts. While he denied the match-fixing and obstruction charges, he admitted to betting on darts. The DRA ultimately found him guilty of fixing matches and placing bets on the sport, but it ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove obstruction. No other players were implicated in the case.

As a result, Jiwa received an eight-year ban, with partial backdating, making him eligible to return in six and a half years. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £17,741 in costs. The Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) played a crucial role in the investigation, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to maintaining integrity in sports betting.

A Crackdown on Darts Match-Fixing

Jiwa is the latest in a series of players to face bans for match-fixing. In December 2023, the DRA imposed similar sanctions on Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner, who admitted to match-fixing. Bennett received an eight-year suspension, while Warriner was banned for ten years. Both players were also ordered to pay £8,100 in costs.

John Pierce, the UK Gambling Commission’s director of enforcement, emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of sports betting markets. “All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption. This decision conveys that match-fixing and betting-related corruption will not be tolerated.”

Jiwa has until 19 March 2024 to appeal the ruling. However, with mounting evidence against him, the chances of a successful appeal appear slim. This case serves as a stark warning to athletes involved in professional sports that any attempts to manipulate matches for financial gain will be met with severe consequences.

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