Lee protests innocence after he gets snooker’s longest ever ban
SNOOKER’S former world No5 Stephen Lee has vowed to clear his name after being handed a career-ending 12-year ban for seven counts of match-fixing.
The 38-year-old Englishman would also have to pay a £40,000 fine in the unlikely event he were to launch a comeback aged 49, though he still hopes to overturn what is thought to be the longest suspension in the game’s history.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” he said. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m totally innocent.”
Head of disciplinary at governing body the WPBSA Nigel Mawer said the case was not indicative of a wider malaise. He added: “I’ve only had to investigate four incidents in 7,000 matches and two of those have led to suspensions.”