Snooker player Stephen Lee suspended during WPBSA investigation

Stephen Lee has been suspended by snooker authorities after they were informed of suspicious betting patterns around his Premier League game with John Higgins on Thursday.

Lee was said to be "absolutely devastated" when he heard of the suspension, according to his manager Adam Quigley, which came on the day of his 38th birthday. "Stephen can't believe it is happening again, just one week after a case that has been outstanding against him for two and half years was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)," said Quigley. "Stephen is absolutely devastated. He has worked incredibly hard this year to get back up to number seven in the world. He is sick of all this stuff getting thrown at him and feels there are doubts about him every time he misses a ball. "Stephen was supposed to be going out for a meal with his wife tonight to celebrate his 38th birthday. He has booked his flights to a tournament in Antwerp next week. Now they are both cancelled and he is engaging a lawyer to fight his corner."