Mark King, a prominent snooker player, has lost his appeal against a five-year ban imposed for match-fixing. The ban was initially handed down in November 2024 after an independent disciplinary committee found King guilty of one count of match-fixing and one count of providing inside information on a match.

Background of the Case

King, a former Northern Ireland Open champion, was suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) on 18 March 2023. This suspension followed reports of suspicious betting on his match against Joe Perry during the Welsh Open on 13 February 2023, which King lost 4-0. Notably, Perry was not accused of any wrongdoing.

The Appeal Process

King, 51, contested the punishment, and his appeal was heard by an independent appeals committee on 8-9 April 2025. During the appeal, King presented four points, one of which he abandoned at the start of the hearing. He argued that the betting patterns on the match, including large sums placed on 4-1 and 4-2 outcomes, weakened the claim that he had agreed to lose 4-0. Additionally, King highlighted flaws in his relationship with one of the individuals connected to the betting and criticized the disciplinary committee's conclusions regarding his form and an injury he was suffering from before the match.

Committee's Decision

The independent appeals committee concluded that King's arguments did not demonstrate that the original decision was unreasonable or wrong. The committee stated:

"Nowhere in this appeal has it been demonstrated that a factual decision is so wrong it could not have been reached, or an evaluative decision is so wrong that it can be said to be unreasonable."

They further added:

"In our view the committee reached reasonable, rational, logical, clear and reasoned conclusions based on all of the evidence which they clearly considered carefully and we find no reason to interfere with the conclusions it reached."

Future Prospects

Mark King will be eligible to return to professional snooker in March 2028. This case underscores the strict regulations and consequences associated with match-fixing in professional sports, particularly in snooker.

For more updates on this case and other snooker-related news, stay tuned to BBC Sport.