Professional darts player Prakash Jiwa has received an eight-year ban for match-fixing offences and betting on the sport.
‘The Apache’ will no longer be allowed to compete in any Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) events until 6 November 2031. He has also been told to pay a £17,741.46 penalty.
The UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) supported the investigation, which detailed four instances of match fixing and betting on darts, each occurring in 2023 during the Modus Super Series. Jiwa however was found not guilty of obstructing the inquiry.
John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, emphasised the importance of gamblers in Britain having confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption.
He said: “Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to support sporting integrity investigations and combat match-fixing. This decision sends a clear message that betting-related corruption in sport will not be tolerated.”
The decision followed a hearing before the DRA Disciplinary Committee on 21 January 2025, which also revealed that no other players in these matches were involved in the unlawful activity.
58-year-old Jiwa now has until Wednesday 19 March 2025 to appeal the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee.
A similar situation occurred last year at the Modus Super Series where the DRA charged players Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner for several serious betting-related breaches.
Now 19 years old, Bennett – like Jiwa – also received an eight year ban from the sport, and was ordered to pay a sum of £8,100.23 in costs.
He was found guilty of 10 charges for fixing the four matches, providing inside information, failing to assist an investigation and signing a contract with an unregistered agent.
Meanwhile, Warriner admitted 19 of 21 charges for being concerned in fixing the four matches, providing inside information and organising betting on the matches, four counts of failing to assist the investigation, two counts of acting as an unregistered agent and betting on darts. Wariner was subsequently banned for 10 years and told to pay £8,100.23 in costs.
