The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has imposed an eight-year ban on player Jiwa, effective until 6 November 2031. This announcement, made on 14 March by the Gambling Commission, prohibits Jiwa from participating in any DRA events for the next six and a half years.
The ban, which has a partial backdate, followed a Disciplinary Committee hearing in January that revealed Jiwa's involvement in four matches flagged for match-fixing. These matches included his losses: 4-0 to Owen Bates on 16 February 2023, 4-0 to Adam Hunt on 17 February 2023, as well as 4-1 defeats to Peter Hudson and Willie Borland on 1 June 2023.
The investigation began after the DRA received a warning from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) concerning suspicious betting patterns associated with Jiwa. This alert was prompted by two bettors with ties to Jiwa who placed significant bets on his matches. In total, they wagered £2,752 (€3,273/$3,559) across the four contested games, a stark contrast to the mere £83 they bet on other matches.
Following the alert, Jiwa was suspended from competition, leading to a Gambling Commission investigation. While initially informed that no further action would be taken against him, the Commission later commissioned an assessment from former professional darts player Ritchie Gardner. Gardner found Jiwa's performance details concerning, noting his finishes fell below expected levels, emphasizing that these lapses couldn't be dismissed as simply having a 'bad day'.
Concerns were further heightened by WhatsApp discussions between the two individuals linked to Jiwa that mentioned "dodgy" betting patterns and an understanding to cease betting after his suspension. Jiwa denied any involvement in wrongdoing during an interview with the DRA, though one of the other bettors claimed his success came from an established betting system.
The DRA's investigation uncovered evidence of phone calls between Jiwa and one of the individuals under scrutiny. Adding to the concerns was Jiwa's deletion of messages from his phone prior to his suspension. Ultimately, Jiwa did admit to betting on darts while acknowledging his association with one of the involved individuals. He also confessed to removing several messages regarding betting.
The DRA formally charged Jiwa in October and set a hearing for January. Although he denied four allegations of match-fixing and one for obstructing the DRA's probe, he accepted a charge related to betting on darts. The DRA ruled him guilty of both match-fixing and betting on darts, dismissing claims of interference in the investigation and asserting that no other players were implicated.
Now banned for eight years, Jiwa is eligible to compete again in six and a half years and has been ordered to cover costs amounting to £17,741. The Gambling Commission's Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) played a crucial role in supporting this investigation, with director of enforcement John Pierce affirming the importance of integrity in gambling.
"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," Pierce stated. He emphasized the commitment to combatting match-fixing and ensuring sporting integrity.
Jiwa has until 19 March to appeal against this ruling. His case adds to a growing list of suspensions impacting the sport, with the DRA previously banning players Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner for eight and ten years, respectively, for match-fixing, each facing additional costs of £8,100.
