Former Leigh Centurions player Andy Thornley has been suspended from any involvement in Rugby League until June 1, 2015 after being found guilty of breaching the sport’s betting rules.
Thornley admitted placing a large number of bets on Rugby League matches via various betting accounts, including matches involving Leigh Centurions, when he appeared before an independent tribunal on Thursday evening.
The tribunal found Thornley to be in breach of the following RFL Operational Rules:
D1:10(c) No Betting. No Person subject to these Operational Rules shall be involved in any manner or capacity whatsoever, whether for his or its own account or on behalf of any other person, in any Betting in respect of any Rugby League Match or Competition or otherwise breach the Betting and Related Activity Code of Conduct as set out in E5 of these Rules.
E5.3.1.1.1 Placing, accepting, laying or otherwise entering into any wager, bet or other form of financial speculation with any individual, company, organisation or other body in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Match, Competition or Event
E5.3.1.3.1 Using in relation to Betting, or providing to any other person for use in relation to Betting, any information relating to any Match, Competition or Event(s) that the Person has in his possession by virtue of his position within the sport and that is not in the public domain or readily accessible by the public without unreasonable restriction, save in the proper performance of that Person’s duties including but not limited to providing information to the Compliance Manager
E4 Respect Code – Player: Do not bet or otherwise financially speculate, directly or indirectly, on the outcome or any other aspect of a rugby league match or competition in which you are involved.
