SHEFFIELD, England — Mark King, an English snooker player, has been banned for five years after being found guilty of match-fixing and providing inside information, marking yet another scandal for the sport.

The 50-year-old, who peaked at a career-high ranking of No. 11 in 2003, received this punishment in connection to a match against Joe Perry during the Welsh Open on February 13, 2022. This match raised suspicions due to unusual betting activity.

Following the incident, King was suspended by the sport’s governing body the following month. An independent disciplinary commission concluded that King had manipulated the match’s outcome and had shared confidential details regarding the match with others for betting strategies, despite his claims of innocence.

His suspension will remain in effect until March 17, 2028, and he has been ordered to pay over £68,000 (approximately $86,000) as part of the costs associated with the case.

This ban follows the previous lifetime suspensions of Chinese players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang last year, who were implicated in a match-fixing scandal involving a total of eight players from China.

Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association and a former player, expressed his disappointment, stating, “I have known Mark King since he was very young; he is a highly skilled player who has experienced considerable success. I am deeply saddened by the findings in this case. However, safeguarding the integrity of our sport remains our utmost priority.”

In addition to the charges against Perry, King faced allegations concerning another match with John Higgins on December 13, 2022, but those claims were ultimately dismissed. The governing body clarified that neither Perry nor Higgins were implicated in any wrongdoing related to this investigation.