Darts star hit with eight-year ban after being found guilty of match fixing as official statement released

A darts player who featured at the PDC World Championships in 2022 has been handed an eight-year ban for match fixing.

Prakash Jiwa, 54, has been banned from all Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) events following an investigation assisted by The Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit.

Following a hearing before the DRA on January 21, 2025, Jiwa was found guilty of fixing four matches and betting on darts. He was also found not guilty of obstructing the enquiry.

As per an official statement, the sanction imposed is that the Rugby-born player is suspended from playing in or being involved in any way in any DRA regulated events for a total period of eight years and ordered to pay costs of £17,741.46.

The suspension will end on 6th November 2031 provided the costs have been paid in full.

Back in November 2023, Jiwa was suspended over suspicious betting on games. It is said the match fixing allegations relate to four Modus Super Series matches played on 16 and 17 February, and 1 June 2023, as seen below.

• Prakash Jiwa vs Owen Bates played on 16/02/23 where Jiwa lost 4-0
• Prakash Jiwa vs Adam Hunt played on 17/02/23 where Jiwa lost 4-0
• Prakash Jiwa vs Peter Hudson played on 01/06/23 where Jiwa lost 4-1
• Prakash Jiwa vs Willie Borland played on 01/06/23 where Jiwa lost 4-1

There is no suggestion that the other players involved in the above matches were involved in any way.

On June 2, 2023, the DRA received an alert from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) of suspicious betting on the match between Jiwa and Hudson played on 1 June.

Three days later, on June 5, the IBIA issued another alert on the match between Jiwa and Willie Borland also played on 1 June. This alert also referred to suspicions concerning the matches against Bates and Hunt played on 16 and 17 February respectively.

Jiwa has been hit with an eight-year ban. Image credit: Getty

Jiwa, who has held a PDC Tour Card on three occasions, featured at the PDC World Championships in December 2022, when he was beaten by Latvia's Madars Razma in the first round.

He was scheduled to take part in the following World Darts Championship in 2023 after winning an Indian qualifier but the suspension stopped him from making a second-consecutive appearance.

John Pierce, who is the Commission Director of Enforcement, has also released a statement on Jiwa's ban.

“All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption," he said.

“Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to support sporting integrity investigations and combat match-fixing. This decision sends a clear message that betting-related corruption in sport will not be tolerated.”

Jiwa came up against Madars Razma at the World Darts Championship. Image credit: Getty

Jiwa has until 19 March 2025 to appeal the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee.