The World Pool Association have made their stance unambiguously clear on the waxing of balls during tournaments following cheating allegations at the recent World Pool Championship.
Certain Filipino players were accused of tampering with the balls both before and during matches in Saudi Arabia, and Eklent Kaci notably revealed his frustration via social media following his last 32 defeat.
Players have since informed the relevant authorities about their concerns of potential cheating, with the World Championship being regulated by the WPA and the World Nineball Tour’s Pool Regulation Authority.
The WPA’s statement read: “It has come to the attention of the WPA that certain athletes have been waxing balls during matches. It has also been suggested that some players believe there is no rule prohibiting this practice.
“The WPA would like to make it explicitly clear that waxing of balls is considered a form of cheating and will be dealt with under the WPA’s rules governing unsportsmanlike conduct. Athletes found guilty of such actions risk facing the maximum disciplinary penalty, including a lifetime ban from WPA-sanctioned events.
“To address this issue, the WPA will implement additional checkpoints and equipment inspections during tournaments to detect and prevent this type of misconduct. The WPA remains committed to ensuring fair play and preserving the integrity of the sport.”
