WPBSA Permanently Revokes Graeme Dott's Membership Following Criminal Conviction

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has officially permanently revoked the membership of Scottish cueist Graeme Dott after he was convicted at Glasgow High Court on August 24, 2026 for lewd and libidinous behaviour relating to historic sexual abuse. The decision was made at an emergency board meeting with unanimous agreement from all members. This is considered the most severe sanction the organization has ever imposed on a professional cueist in history. According to the announcement, Dott was temporarily suspended from competition on April 9, 2026 while awaiting trial. After the trial concluded with a final verdict, WPBSA acted swiftly to completely remove him from all professional snooker activities. In addition to revoking membership, WPBSA has also officially requested the World Snooker Tour (WST) to remove Dott's name from the Hall of Fame of the sport. This means all historical achievements and recognition for the 41-year-old cueist could be erased. However, according to the WPBSA Constitution, Dott still retains the right to appeal within 21 days of the decision. If an appeal is filed, the matter will be reviewed at the General Meeting with voting members participating. To overturn the revocation decision, Dott needs to achieve the required voting threshold under the Special Resolution as stipulated in Articles 24.2 and 24.3 of the Constitution. Previously, Dott was relegated from the professional ranking list at the end of the 2026/26 season, officially marking the end of his professional competitive career. With the membership revocation just announced, the path back for this former World Champion cueist is now almost completely closed. WPBSA's tough action is assessed as aimed at protecting the reputation and image of the sport. In recent years, sports organizations worldwide have increasingly tightened regulations on athletes' personal conduct, especially matters related to ethics and law. Dott was once one of Scotland's leading cueists in the early 21st century, having reached the world top 10 and competing at the highest level for many years. However, with the court verdict and WPBSA's decision, his illustrious career has officially ended under regrettable circumstances. Industry experts believe this case will set an important precedent for handling ethical violations in snooker and other billiards sports. The severity of the punishment demonstrates that WPBSA will no longer tolerate any illegal conduct, regardless of the athlete's competitive achievements. Observers also suggest this decision could affect snooker's future sponsorship agreements and partnerships, as sponsors increasingly care about the ethical image of the athletes they support. WPBSA's swift and decisive action is seen as a correct step to protect the brand of this sport.