Higgins banned but cleared of match-fixing charge

JOHN HIGGINS welcomed the outcome of a hearing that yesterday cleared him of match-fixing but imposed a six-month ban on the former world snooker champion.

Higgins, who was also fined £75,000, admitted breaching rules around betting at the two-day London hearing overseen by independent body Sport Resolutions.

The 35-year-old Scot was suspended in May pending an investigation into allegations of frame-throwing made by the News of the World.