Time's bleedin' a thief, mate
Former Detroit College Basketball Standout Among Five Players B earnings Suspended Due to Game Rigging
Britain's basketball world's spinning fast, all right, with former Detroit Mercy hero Josh McFolley, 28, whacked with a whopping 10-year ban from all professional basketball due to fixin' matches.
McFolley, known for leadin' Detroit Western High School to a state championship with a 26-0 run in 2015, got off with a relatively lighter sentence on Monday. His ban means he can't suit up again in the pros till his thirties are knocking on his door.
FIBA's ban on McFolley 'til 2034 ain't the worst of it, though. The bosses over at the organization also slapped Shakem Johnston and Padiet Wang with "lifetime or long-term suspensions." Meanwhile, the British Basketball Federation (BBF) gave Quincy Taylor and Charleston Dobbs - you guessed it - lifetime bans and fines. The lot of them were nailed for match-fixing while playin' for Surrey Scorchers, a now-defunct franchise that used to compete in the British Basketball League (BBL).
Law's long memory
The UK Gambling Commission ain't one to forget its enemies, y'see. Their internal intelligence sleuths backed the probe into match-fixing and rule-breakin' within the now-defunct BBL, and their noses led them right back to the Surrey Scorchers' 2022-23 season.
According to the UKGC, the investigation, led by FIBA and supported by the BBF, "identified at least six compromised matches."
The bans, they claim, prove their determination "and other stakeholders' commitment to maintain integrity in sport and enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward betting-related corruption." Don't ask 'em if McFolley's ban's for crashin' the games or keepin' silent about the corruption - they ain't lettin' that one outta the bag.
During the Surrey Scorchers' 2022-23 season, McFolley averaged a solid 19.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.5 rebounds. He's got the right to appeal, and if he does, well, who knows? The Detroit native's found himself in the UK, Luxembourg, Finland, Georgia, Kosovo, and Slovakia after his stint with Detroit Mercy.
The British sports world is under scrutiny as matches in the basketball league have been compromised, leading to suspensions for players such as Josh McFolley, who received a 10-year ban for his role in match-fixing. Law's long memory is evident in the UK Gambling Commission's support for the investigation, as they continue to ensure integrity in sports with a zero-tolerance policy towards betting-related corruption.
