Australian Billiards & Snooker Council

News

Quinten Hann Press Statement
21 Feb 2006

** The following statement has been released by the WPBSA **

On 17 February 2006 a disciplinary hearing was held before an independent Disciplinary Hearing Board appointed by the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel to consider certain allegations of intention to match fix made against Mr Quinten Hann whilst a member of the WPBSA.

Mr Hann did not attend the hearing and had resigned his professional membership of the Association on 9 February 2006.

The Hearing Board considered a written submission from Mr Hann.

The Hearing Board found Mr Hann to be in breach of Section II C2.2 and C2.8 of the WPBSA Rules and Regulations which state:

“C2.2 Members shall, at all times (ie. whether at a Tournament or not), behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen. Members shall not do anything which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the grounds of disability, their religion, race, colour or national or ethnic origin, sex or sexual orientation.

C2.8 A Member shall not directly or indirectly solicit, attempt to solicit or accept any payment or any form of remuneration or benefit in exchange for influencing the outcome of any game of snooker or billiards.”

The Hearing Board imposed on Mr Hann a suspension from competing in WPBSA events of eight years and awarded hearing costs against Mr Hann limited to Ł10,000. A statement from the Hearing Board follows.

WORLD PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER ASSOCIATION

A Disciplinary Panel (Gerard Elias QC, Chairman, Mark Day and Graham Revill) appointed by the above Association, sat on 17th February 2006 to consider allegations brought against Quinten Hann arising from his conduct in March and April 2005. The hearing had been adjourned from 29th November 2005 at the request of Mr Hann.

Mr Hann notified the Panel a week ago that he did not intend to appear but that he proposed to send a statement, which he duly did. The Panel considered whether any further adjournment might procure his attendance, but decided that he did not intend to appear. In these circumstances the Panel concluded that there was no unfairness to Mr Hann and determined to continue the hearing in his absence.

The Panel considered the evidence put before it by way of video and audio clips as well as the transcripts of meetings which took place between Mr Hann and men, who it later transpired were members of the Press, in March and April 2005. The Panel also considered the contents of a letter dated 18th May 2005 sent on behalf of Mr Hann by his solicitors as well as a statement by Mr Hann sent to the Panel on 16th February 2006. Mr Hann indicated that he denied the allegations.

Having considered these matters, the Panel unanimously concluded that the evidence disclosed that

At these meetings Mr Hann had knowingly entered into an agreement to join in an unlawful enterprise to fix the results of certain snooker competitions in return for financial gain.

The Panel was thus satisfied that such conduct amounted to a clear and serious breach of Rules 2.2. and 2.8 of the Association’s Rules. In consequence the penalty imposed upon Quinten Hann is

That he be suspended from participating in any tournaments organised under the auspices of WPBSA for a period of 8 years.

He was also ordered the pay the costs of the hearing limited to the sum of Ł10,000.