Darts Competitor Prakash Jiwa Faced an Eight-Year Suspension for Allegedly Rigging Four Matches
In the world of darts, the disciplinary committee of the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) slapped a hefty eight-year ban on Prakash Jiwa for rigging four games. The 54-year-old darts pro, however, vehemently denied the allegations that he intentionally tanked in these matches back in 2023. Yet, he pleaded guilty to betting charges.
Jiwa's ban means he is barred from participating in any DRA tournaments and his involvement in the sport is zero until November 2031. On top of this, he has to shoulder the £17,741 ($22,932) costs associated with the hearing.
The questionable matches in question were part of the Modus Super Series, where he lost against Owen Bates, Adam Hunt, Peter Hudson, and Willie Borland, none of whom are under suspicion.
A grand total of £5,834 ($7,541) in illicit gains surfaced as a result of these manipulated matches. The red flag was raised when the International Betting Integrity Association sent an alert to the DRA about these suspicious activities. Two individuals close to Jiwa placed wagers on the Betfair Exchange, raking in the mentioned amount.
An independent report by former darts professionals scrutinized Jiwa's performance in those matches and stated that his decisive mistakes were "rim-rattlingly concerning," as his darts landed more than an inch away from the intended target — a stark contrast from his usual form.
Authorities dug up a WhatsApp conversation where the bettors essentially confessed to their match-fixing scam.
As a common preventive and detective measure across sports, there are integrity units, anti-corruption policies, reporting mechanisms, collaboration with betting operators, and educational programs to educate players and staff about the dangers and consequences of match-fixing. While the World Darts Federation (WDF) and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) likely have similar protections in place, data on the frequency of match-fixing incidents in darts isn't easily accessible.
- Despite the eight-year ban, Prakash Jiwa's involvement in the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) tournaments remains null until November 2031 due to the rigging scandal.
- The costs associated with the hearing for the suspicious activities came up to £17,741 ($22,932) that Jiwa now has to cover.
- Interestingly, none of Jiwa's opponents in the Modus Super Series, namely Owen Bates, Adam Hunt, Peter Hudson, and Willie Borland, are under suspicion for match-fixing.
- In the series of manipulated matches, a total of £5,834 ($7,541) in illicit gains were recorded, prompting an alert from the International Betting Integrity Association to the DRA.
