SNOOKER: Lee to miss World Championships (From Wiltshire Times)

SNOOKER: Lee to miss World Championships

7:47pm Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Sport

WILTSHIRE snooker star Stephen Lee will miss the 2013 World Championships because the investigation into claims of match-fixing will not be completed in time, it was reported tonight.

Trowbridge player Lee has been suspended since October of last year after an inquiry was opened into betting patterns surrounding his Premier League match with John Higgins.

The 38 year old, who climbed back into the world's top 10 before his suspension, had applied to play in the tournament at the Crucible next month despite facing a formal independent hearing arranged by Sport Resolutions UK over separate allegations.

But BBC Sport reported tonight that the hearing will not happen before the draw is made.

Lee, who strenuously denies the allegations, is still awaiting a date for his hearing, which is expected to take place before the end of April, but not in time for the World Championship draw, which will take place on Easter Monday.

The tournament starts on April 20.

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