STEPHEN Lee’s appeal against match-fixing was thrown out on Thursday – and costs against him increased to over £100,000.
The 39-year-old from Trowbridge was found guilty last September of match- and spot-fixing in seven matches over 2008 and 2009 including one at the Crucible.
And five-time ranking-event winner and former world No5 Lee was sentenced to a 12-year ban from professional snooker and £40,000 costs.
With the player continuing to protest his innocence a total of three QCs have now acted for independent tribunal body Sport Resolutions hearing the case and appeals.
And the latest, Nicholas Stewart, as well as adding £35,000 to Lee’s £70,000 bill yesterday, revealed there could yet be more to pay from the latest appeal.
Governing body the WPBSA branded the Lee case the “worst case of corruption the sport has seen”.
And Edwin Glasgow QC withdrew after the first part of the appeal for “forming an unfavourable impression” of Lee.
Lee cannot play again until 2024 after being convicted as snooker’s most notorious cheat – and he angrily hit out on his Facebook page following the announcement.
In it he criticised World Snooker, its chairman Barry Hearn, disciplinary body the WPBSA and the manner in which his hearings were conducted.
And the fallen star, a father of four who has seen his main source of income disappear almost for good, also claimed he would be going bankrupt.
A WPBSA statement read: “Nicholas Stewart QC, sitting as the Appeals Committee, has considered the submissions made by all parties in the final part of Stephen Lee's appeal against his finding that he was in breach of the WPBSA Rules for match and spot fixing in connection with seven matches in 2008-9.
“The appeal was against the finding, sanction and the costs order imposed by Adam Lewis QC in September 2013.
“Today Mr Stewart has delivered his decision and he has dismissed the appeal. In addition he has increased the costs order in relation to the hearing before Adam Lewis QC from £40,000 to £75,000.
“The term of the suspension remains at a period of twelve years. This means that Stephen Lee will continue to be unable to compete in professional snooker before 12th October 2024.
“The costs in relation to the appeal hearing on Monday are yet to be determined.”
Photographs by Monique Limbos