By Gwurld4026 
England’s Kazeem Adeleke Faces Suspension Over Betting Scandal
British-Nigerian table tennis player Kazeem Adeleke has been suspended for five years by Table Tennis England following an investigation into match-fixing and unusual betting activities. The investigation, initiated by the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU), uncovered unusual betting patterns linked to British accounts on matches held in Ukraine in 2020.
Adeleke, along with fellow players Luke Savill, Darius Knight, and Joseph Langham-Ferreira, appeared before the Disciplinary Committee for breaches of the Table Tennis England (TTE) Anti-Corruption Regulations. While Savill and Knight were found guilty of both match-fixing and betting on matches, Adeleke’s charges pertained solely to betting on table tennis matches between 2018 and 2020.
The sanctions imposed are as follows:
- Luke Savill: Indefinite suspension, with a minimum of six years before eligibility for review.
- Darius Knight: Six-year suspension.
- Kazeem Adeleke: Five-year suspension.
- Joseph Langham-Ferreira: Three-year suspension.
These suspensions prohibit the players from participating in any table tennis activities organized under the auspices of Table Tennis England, including playing, coaching, officiating, or even spectating at events.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Gambling Commission’s SBIU, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and specialist consultants. Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, emphasized the importance of global collaboration in protecting the integrity of sports, stating that those who seek to manipulate outcomes face increasing scrutiny.
Table Tennis England’s CEO, Sally Lockyer, reiterated the organization’s commitment to upholding the sport’s integrity and ensuring thorough investigations into any breaches of regulations or codes of conduct.