Snooker: England's Lee gets 12-year ban for fixing

England's Stephen Lee gets banned for 12 years after being found guilty of seven charges of match-fixing, snooker's world governing body announced today.

England's Stephen Lee was banned for 12 years on Wednesday after being found guilty of seven charges of match-fixing, snooker's world governing body announced.

Former world number five, 38-year-old Lee, was found guilty by an independent tribunal last week of match-fixing charges relating to seven matches in 2008 and 2009 and the sanction imposed Wednesday.

Lee was also ordered to pay £ 38,000 ($61,000) costs

Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA), the sport's global governing body, said: "We take no pride in having to deal with such serious issues."

"However this demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that snooker is free from corruption."

"It is an important part of our anti-corruption approach that players found to be involved in fixing matches or any aspect of a match are severely dealt with. We work closely with partners globally and the message we are sending is that if you get involved in match fixing, you will be found out and removed from the sport."

Lee has the right of appeal under WPBSA rules.