It was announced on Friday that five snooker players from China have been suspended with immediate effect.
Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, and Chang Bingyu have all been prevented from competing, pending an investigation.
The news follows an earlier suspension this season for Liang Wenbo, who is under investigation for alleged match-fixing.
As the world no.41, Lu is the highest ranked of the quintet having reached the final of the Championship League at the start of this campaign.
Li a former Scottish Open semi-finalist and reached a career-high ranking of no.28 three years ago.
Bai and Chang are less experienced players but have been participating on the Main Tour for several seasons and both have been touted as potential ranking events winners in the future.
Zhao dropped off the professional Main Tour at the end of last season and has been competing as an amateur since then – reaching the last 32 of the British Open as a top-up in September.
“WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect,” the statement from the governing body read.
“This follows the suspension of Liang Wenbo on 27 October 2022 and a subsequent investigation which remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.”
- CLICK HERE: Liang Wenbo suspended from snooker again
“The suspensions of all six players will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. These players have the right to appeal this decision.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and no further comment will be made until the investigation is complete.”
The announcement means that Fraser Patrick and Elliot Slessor will receive byes through to the last 32 of next week’s English Open.
Featured photo credit: WST
It was Lu rather than Li who has previously made the UK semis.
Correct, thanks. Btw, have you noticed any problems with the homepage in the last couple of days? Main article now should be on Chang.