Suspended Stuart Bingham has took to Twitter to thank his supporters after it was announced he was banned from playing for three months for betting on matches.

Stuart Bingham. Picture by Monique Limbos

The 2015 world champion received a six-month suspension from the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) after it was found he made a string of bets over a number of years to the full value of more than £35,000. It is against the sport’s rules for any player to bet on matches.

Half of his six-month ban was suspended meaning he is unable to play in any World Snooker events until the end of January – therefore missing big tournaments such as the International Championship, the UK Championship, The Masters and several others.

The former world number one said on Twitter he would be talking to his team when he returned to the UK from China about making an official statement regarding his ban.

Strangely, Bingham had been in China preparing for the International Championship, which starts on Sunday, but now is ineligible to play.

However, he thanked his fans for the support he has been given since the ban was announced.

His tweet read: “In China at the moment so waiting till I get home and talk to my team about making a statement on my ban. Thanks for all the support.”