Former world youth darts champion Leighton Bennett has been suspended after suspicious betting was reported at four of his matches.
The teenager has been suspended along with Billy Warriner for alleged breaches of Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) rules.
As a result of this decision, Bennett and Warriner have been suspended from participating in DRA-organized events until the hearing(s) have been completed and a decision has been made in this matter.
Both players have the right to appeal the suspension decision.
The 18-year-old Bennett became the BDO’s youngest ever junior champion when he won the competition in 2019 at the age of 13, beating darts legend Phil Taylor that same year.
Earlier this year he won a ticket to the professional PDC Tour and vowed to take on World Championship runner-up Luke Littler.
Bennett’s suspension relates to four matches he played over two days during the Modus Super Series in September 2023 against Mindaugas Barauskas (twice), Benjamin Drue-Reus and Ryan Harrington.
There is no evidence that the other players in the matches in question were involved in any way.
According to the DRA, the two “have to answer for a number of serious violations of DRA rules”.
Their case will be referred to the DRA Disciplinary Committee, but a date for the formal hearing has yet to be set.
It is unclear which match or matches the 23-year-old Warriner’s suspension relates to.
The DRA has been contacted for comment.
