Pro snooker player Alfie Burden has been given a suspended six month ban from the sport after breaking betting rules.

The 40 year old placed bets totalling more than £25,000 on matches, including his own, over a 10 year period. The world snooker governing body pointed out that his betting had been "largely unsuccessful".

They said that they were satisfied the bets did not influence match outcomes in any way. He has been fined £5,000 and his ban will be activated if any more breaches occur in the next 12 months.

Burden enjoyed the best season of his career last year, reaching the quarter-finals of the China Open and European Masters.