Former darts prodigy Leighton Bennett has been handed an eight-year ban from the sport for match-fixing.

Bennett received the lengthy suspension after he was found guilty by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) of fixing four matches.

The 18-year-old, who won the BDO World Youth Championship in 2019, was also found guilty of failing to assist the investigation and signing a contract with an unregistered agent. 

Bennett also had to pay a £8,100 fine.  He has until December 14 to appeal the findings of the DRA’s Disciplinary Committee.

Billy Warriner was also charged by the DRA with match-fixing and received a 10-year ban from the sport. “Modus Super Series works tirelessly to ensure the integrity of our event, everybody involved, and the sport of darts is protected.”

In the DRA’s published findings, Warriner admitted he had reached out to Bennett about fixing matches so he could clear his own mounting gambling debts.

“At the time I felt I didn’t have any option,” Warriner told the DRA.