UPDATED DRA STATEMENT - Kyle McKinstry

On 1st May 2020 the DRA were informed by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) of

suspicious betting on a Darts match that had been played on 30th April 2020 between Kyle McKinstry

and David Evans in the Modus A Night at the Darts series. This was an event regulated by the DRA,

unconnected with the PDC. McKinstry lost the match 5-0. On 2nd May 2020 the IBIA reported further

suspicious betting activity on McKinstry’s match with Wessel Nijman that was played on 2nd May

2020. The DRA launched an investigation working closely with Sportradar Integrity Services,

the Gambling Commission Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar

Gambling Regulator and betting operators.
 

On 17th October 2020 at a hearing of the DRA Disciplinary Committee McKinstry admitted fixing his

match with David Evans but denied fixing an aspect of his match with Wessel Nijman on 2nd May

2020 and of failing to cooperate with the DRA by not producing his itemised phone billing as

required. The Committee found all three of the charges against McKinstry proven.
 

On 25th November 2020 the Committee released its decision on sanction in the McKinstry case

which is as follows:
 

For fixing two matches in the Modus Events McKinstry is suspended from the sport for six and a half

years. McKinstry is suspended for a further eighteen months for failing to provide his itemised phone

billing to the DRA.
 

This means that McKinstry is suspended for a total of eight years from 18th August 2020 until

midnight on 17th August 2028. He was ordered to pay costs of £4,730.64.
 

Nigel Mawer the DRA Chairman said “This shows that any player found guilty of match fixing at any

level of the sport will be caught and will face a lengthy ban. The specific suspension for failing to

produce itemised phone billing is welcomed, as the requirement for co-operation from Players is an

important part of any DRA investigation”.
 

The DRA Rules extract:

4.5 Each Player or Registered Agent shall co-operate with the DRA in any investigation

carried out by or on behalf of the DRA under the provisions of these Rules including (but

not limited to):

4.5.5 Providing the DRA with access to all records relating to the alleged breach. This

includes, but is not limited to; betting accounts, bank records, telephone records,

internet service records, social media accounts, email and other records stored on

phones, tablets, electronic devices, computer hard drives or otherwise. To facilitate

this, the Player or Registered Agent will surrender any such devices for examination

by the DRA or its representative.

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;

2.1.3. 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 HERE