DRA STATEMENT ON NIJMAN
August 20, 2019
On 14th May 2020 the DRA were informed by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) of suspicious betting on a Darts match to be played later that day between Wessel Nijman and David Evans in the Modus Icons of Darts series. This was a series of events regulated by the DRA, unconnected with the PDC. The match was played and Nijman lost 4-0. The DRA launched an investigation working closely with Sportradar Integrity Sevices, the Gambling Commission Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, Malta Gaming Authority and betting operators.
Nigel Mawer the Chairman of the DRA has decided that Nijman has a case to answer for match fixing in breach of the DRA Betting Rules. As a result of this decision, Nijman has been suspended from attending or competing in DRA sanctioned events until the conclusion of the hearing or hearings and the determination of this matter. Nijman has the right to appeal this suspension decision.
The matter will be referred to the DRA Disciplinary Committee where a formal hearing will take place at a venue and date to be confirmed.
There is no suggestion that Nijmans’s opponent in the match in question was involved in any way in this alleged breach of the rules.
DRA Betting Rules extract:
2. Betting misconduct
2.1. It shall be a breach of these Rules for a Participant to do any of the following:
2.1.2. Corruption:
(i) to fix or contrive, or to be a party to any effort to fix or contrive, the result, score, progress, conduct or any other aspect of the Darts Event;
Misuse of inside information:
(i) to use for betting purposes, or to provide to any other person for such purposes, any information relating to the Darts Event that the Participant possesses by virtue of their position within the sport and that is not in the public domain or readily accessible by the public;
The full DRA Rules can be viewed at www.thedra.co.uk