• The PDPA have released a statement with regards to Wessel Nijman and Kyle McKinstry.

PDPA associate member Wessel Nijman has issued the following statement in response to a Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) Disciplinary Committee referral:

I would like to place on public record my sincere regret and apology for the mistake I made in relation to betting and match-fixing. I was put under some pressure to lose a match and I agreed to do this. I have admitted the offence and take full responsibility for it and will accept my punishment.

I should have spoken to my management, the PDPA, DRA or police when I was put in this position and would advise any other player who finds themselves in a similar position to do that. Instead, I went along with it and made a stupid mistake that I am rightly being punished for.

It was a one-off error of judgement which I want to put behind me and do everything I can to put right. I have made private apologies to the people who I have let down, including my family who have backed me through my whole career, my management and sponsors, and I want to publicly apologise to them and everybody involved in darts, including fans.

My actions are a personal mistake made by me and not a reflection on the sport of darts. I want to move on, rebuild my career and reputation and am committed to helping to educate others through my own unfortunate experience so that this kind of offence can be prevented.

I will be making no further comment on this matter at this time.

Wessel Nijman

PDPA statement

The PDPA is disheartened to learn that two of our members have been referred to the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) Disciplinary Committee for formal hearings for breaches of integrity rules in relation to betting and match-fixing in DRA sanctioned events, unconnected with the Professional Darts Corporation. This is considered a serious matter and it is right and just that any player in breach of these rules is punished accordingly. Kyle McKinstry and Wessel Nijman have both been suspended from attending or competing in DRA sanctioned events until the conclusion of the hearings.

As McKinstry had indicated his intention to appeal this decision, the PDPA is unable to comment further on his ongoing case at this time. Nijman has accepted the charges, admitted the offence, expressed his regret and is fully cooperating with the DRA.

While the PDPA as an organisation condemns his actions, we also recognise his admission of guilt, his remorse, his willingness to cooperate and his desire to re-educate himself on matters of integrity. We have provided Nijman with support, guidance, education and assistance and will continue to do so throughout the case and beyond. The same support remains available to McKinstry. Our primary purpose is to serve and support all of our members and we hope that Nijman’s mistakes will also serve as a reminder of the severity of such an offence.

Members are reminded to engage with our educational activities, including the e-learning module on betting integrity and our annual seminars. We also recently released new social media guidance, which includes the advice to report any integrity issues to the relevant authority.

Any suspicious approaches should be reported to the DRA or players should contact the PDPA for assistance in such matters. The PDPA will be making no further comment on these individual cases at this time but would like to take this opportunity to remind all members to remain vigilant, educated and safe in this area.

• This media release was published by the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) on 18 August 2020. Click here for the original.