SAD NEWS: Yan Bingtao was given a seven-year suspension Due to..

Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour amid an ongoing investigation into match-fixing.

The Chinese world No 16 has been banned from attending or competing at events with immediate effect as the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) continues to probe allegations that matches were manipulated for betting purposes.

Five other Chinese players – Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu – were suspended last week pending the result of the investigation while countryman Liang Wenbo was suspended in October.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson told Eurosport, “Any player who thinks they can get away with it [match-fixing] is completely foolish.”

We are still quite far along in this investigation. Although it doesn’t look good on us, we are a sport that decides how to handle it.

“We will not allow it to be discussed behind closed doors because we are a sport that puts it out in the open.”

A statement confirming Bingtao’s suspension read: ‘WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Yan Bingtao from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.

‘This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations.

‘The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought.

‘Yan Bingtao has the right to appeal this decision.’

Twenty-two-year-old Bingtao, who won the Masters last year, had been due to play in the English Open this week but first-round opponent Ashley Hugill was awarded a walkover.

His suspension is the latest among a host of Chinese players at the top of the game.

A recent WPBSA statement read: ‘WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.

‘This follows the suspension of Liang Wenbo on 27 October 2022 and a subsequent investigation which remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.