Kyle McKinstry and Wessel Nijman have been suspended by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after charges of match-fixing, which McKinstry intends to appeal, but Nijman has accepted.

Former BDO World Championship quarter-finalist and current PDC player McKinstry has been charged with ‘two cases of match fixing and failing to cooperate with the DRA enquiry by not producing his phone itemised billing.’

Nijman has been charged with one case of match-fixing in breach of DRA betting rules.

The matches in question occurred in online tournaments run by darts management company Modus. Suspicious betting patterns were reported in matches involving the two players.

McKinstry lost 5-0 to David Evans during Modus A Night at the Darts on 30 April, while Nijman lost 4-0, also to Evans, at Modus Icons of Darts, both resulting in suspicious betting patterns being reported, reports iGamingBusiness.

There was no suggestion that Evans was in any way involved in the match-fixing, though after the cases were brought to light thanks to the work of Sportradar Integrity Services, the Gambling Commission Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Gambling Regulator and betting operators

The Professional Darts Players Association have confirmed that McKinstry intends to appeal the decision, but his management company, MDA Promotions, have released a statement expressing their disappointment.

The statement read: ‘MDA Promotions are deeply disappointed with regard to Kyle McKinstry and match fixing allegations.

‘This management prides itself on sporting integrity at all times and has done for its entire involvement in any sporting activity, darts or otherwise.

‘Therefore such allegations for one of our players is to be taken very seriously and we will, of course, accept any decision by the Darts Regulation Authority.

‘MDA Promotions will not be making any further comment on the matter until after the full investigation is completed by the Darts Regulation Authority.’

The length of the suspension is until the conclusion of the hearing which will be held by the DRA Disciplinary Committee at a date to be confirmed.

The same goes for Nijman, although he will not be appealing and the committee will decide the length of his ban. The Dutchman has released a statement expressing his regret and apologising for fixing a match.

Wessel Nijman statement via the PDPA

I would like to place on public record my sincere regret and apology for the mistake I made in relation to betting and match-fixing. I was put under some pressure to lose a match and I agreed to do this. I have admitted the offence and take full responsibility for it and will accept my punishment.

I should have spoken to my management, the PDPA, DRA or police when I was put in this position and would advise any other player who finds themselves in a similar position to do that. Instead, I went along with it and made a stupid mistake that I am rightly being punished for.

It was a one-off error of judgement which I want to put behind me and do everything I can to put right. I have made private apologies to the people who I have let down, including my family who have backed me through my whole career, my management and sponsors, and I want to publicly apologise to them and everybody involved in darts, including fans.

My actions are a personal mistake made by me and not a reflection on the sport of darts. I want to move on, rebuild my career and reputation and am committed to helping to educate others through my own unfortunate experience so that this kind of offence can be prevented.

I will be making no further comment on this matter at this time.

Wessel Nijman

McKinstry, the world number 92, enjoyed his best run in a major PDC event just before the coronavirus hiatus, making the last 16 of the UK Open.

20-year-old Nijman has made little impact in professional darts as yet and will be set for a spell out of the game now.

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