Graeme Dott, the 2006 World Snooker Champion from Scotland, has been suspended from the sport following serious allegations of child sexual abuse. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on April 9, 2025, that Dott had been removed from the World Snooker Championship qualifiers, just days before the tournament was set to begin. The suspension came after Dott was charged with offenses involving a girl between 1993 and 1996 and a boy between 2006 and 2010, both of whom were approximately 10 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
The charges include serious assaults against the victims, with the girl allegedly around ten years old and the boy around seven at the time of the purported incidents. The case is scheduled to be heard at the High Court in Glasgow in June. In response, the WPBSA has suspended Dott, pending court proceedings, and has refrained from further comment during the legal proceedings.
Dott, 47, turned professional in 1994 and achieved major career success with his victory at the 2006 World Snooker Championship and runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2010. He was ranked among the world’s top 16 players between 2001 and 2009 but has since fallen in rankings. He was scheduled to compete in this year’s World Snooker Championship qualifiers, though his participation is now doubtful due to the suspension. The WPBSA has stated they will not provide further comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.
In recent years, Dott had been considering a career change, exploring opportunities in pool tournaments in China. He had expressed interest in transitioning to pool after his snooker career, participating in eight-ball pool tournaments and showing potential in the sport. However, the current legal situation has cast uncertainty on his future in both snooker and pool.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the snooker community awaits further developments regarding Dott’s career and the impact of these serious allegations on his legacy in the sport.
