Basketball Players Banned After Match-Fixing
Six former players from the British Basketball League, including five ex-Surrey Scorchers members, received disciplinary sanctions for match-fixing and betting-related misconduct. The punishments include lifetime bans, multi-year suspensions, and financial penalties. FIBA and the British Basketball Federation led the investigations, supported by betting industry bodies.
Lifetime Bans for Game Manipulation
Quincy Taylor and Charleston Dobbs manipulated match outcomes and failed to report corrupt approaches during the 2022–2023 season. The British Basketball Federation imposed lifetime bans and fines on both players. FIBA extended these sanctions worldwide. Shakem Johnston, Padiet Wang, and Joshua McFolley also received long-term or lifetime bans from FIBA.
Dean Wanliss placed bets on basketball matches between 2019 and 2021. As a result, the BBF fined him and suspended him for three years. FIBA, the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), the GB betting industry, and the IOC Monitoring Unit also contributed to the investigation.
Cross-Border Coordination
The Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit supported both investigations. Authorities confirmed that at least six games from the 2022–2023 season were compromised. The process involved collaboration across federations and regulatory bodies, highlighting the scale of the inquiry.
“This case underscores the commitment of FIBA, the BBF, the Gambling Commission and other stakeholders to maintaining integrity in sport and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward betting-related corruption,” said one of the regulatory bodies involved.