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Nitin Kumar Jiwa, a darts player, has been banned for eight years by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after being accused of match-fixing. The Gambling Commission announced the decision on March 14, 2025, and it prohibits Jiwa from taking part in any DRA events until November 6, 2031.
The Disciplinary Committee hearing in January led to the partially retroactive ban. The committee reviewed evidence of questionable conduct from Jiwa’s four games during the hearing.
He lost 4-0 to Adam Hunt on February 17, 2023, and Owen Bates on February 16, 2023. On June 1, 2023, Jiwa also suffered a 4-1 loss to Willie Borland and Peter Hudson.
The case came to light when the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) flagged suspicious betting patterns. The DRA received the alert on 2 June 2023. Notably, two individuals linked to Jiwa placed £2,752 in wagers on his matches, compared to just £83 on other games.
Following the alert, Jiwa faced immediate suspension. The Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) launched an investigation, with former darts professional Ritchie Gardner conducting an independent performance assessment. Gardner reported a concerning decline in Jiwa’s performance, citing consistently poor finishes.
“This cannot simply be attributed to a ‘bad day at the office,’” Gardner concluded.
Further evidence emerged from WhatsApp conversations between the two individuals, referencing “dodgy” bets and suggesting they stopped wagering after Jiwa’s suspension. Although Jiwa denied any wrongdoing, investigators discovered he had deleted numerous messages.
Under further scrutiny, Jiwa admitted to betting on darts, including matches connected to one of the individuals under investigation. Despite denying the match-fixing allegations, the DRA found him guilty of four match-fixing charges and one betting charge. However, he was cleared of obstruction charges.
The ban’s partial backdating means Jiwa can resume competitive play in six and a half years. He must also pay £17,741 in legal costs.
Following the ruling, the Gambling Commission’s Director of Enforcement, John Pierce, emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity in sports.
“All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption,” Pierce stated.
Jiwa has until 19 March to appeal the decision.