Northern Irish darts player Kyle McKinstry has been suspended for eight years after fixing two matches in the Modus Online League.
The ban is formed of six and a half years for those matches in the summer and a further eighteen months for failing to provide details of his phone billing to the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA).
The DRA oversee all PDC events and also regulated Online Leagues ran by promoter Modus during the first lockdown. These events were streamed online from players’ homes.
Two players were found to have fixed matches, McKinstry and Wessel Nijman, who was banned for five years, with half of it suspended.
On 30 April and 2 May, McKinstry’s games with David Evans and Nijman respectively were found to have involved suspicious betting activity by the International Betting Integrity Assocation.
Unlike Nijman, McKinstry initially denied any wrongdoing, which is why his ban is more substantial.
On Facebook, McKinstry said: “This is something I will regret for the rest of my life and I hope this is a catalyst for anyone else in a bad position.
“I would like to say I am sorry to my supporters and sponsors for everything but most of my all family and friends.”
DRA chairman Nigel Mawer said: “This shows that any player found guilty of match fixing at any level of the sport will be caught and will face a lengthy ban.”
It lasts until 17th August, 2028. He has also been ordered to pay costs of £4,730.64.