Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott BANNED days before the start of the tournament
Former champion Graeme Dott has been banned ahead of the World Snooker Championship getting underway after court papers accused him of sexual abuse.
The event at the Crucible kicks off on 19 April but a past winner of the tournament will not be competing in Sheffield, it has been confirmed.
Graeme Dott won the championship back in 2006, 12 years after turning professional, but will not be able to add to his tally this year after being suspended.
The governing body, the WPBSA, issued a statement where they said the Pocket Dynamo is involved in an upcoming court case of which they did not reveal any further details about.
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A statement read: "Graeme Dott has been suspended by the WPBSA due to a case which is scheduled to be heard before the High Court in Scotland.
"Whilst court proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for the WPBSA to make any further comment."
However, shortly after the statement was published, The Sun reported on the specifics of the case involving Dott, who is facing two separate historical charges of sexual abuse against children.
Citing court papers, the outlet say one alleged incident is reported to have involved a girl between 1993 and 1996, with the second alleged sexual assault charge relating to a boy, also around 10 years of age, between 2006 and 2010.
Dott has two ranking titles to his name, having won the 2007 China open a year after his 18-14 win over Peter Ebdon to become world champion for the first time.
The game had one of the latest finishes in World Championship final history, officially ending at 12.52am and surpassing the previous record set by Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor in 1985.
Dott kissed the trophy before potting the final ball and took a whopping £200,000 in prize money.
He had reached the final in a losing effort to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2004 and did so again in 2010 - this time suffering defeat to Neil Robertson.
At the time of his suspension, Dott is ranked 56th in the world - 54 places below his highest ever ranking in 2007/08.
His omission means the tournament will take place without him for the first time since 1994.
Topics: Snooker, World Snooker Championship
Josh Lawless