Snooker star Stephen Lee said that he was “absolutely devastated” after receiving a 12-year ban for match-fixing.

Lee was found guilty of match-fixing charges relating to seven matches in 2008 and 2009, receiving his sanction today, but has launched an immediate appeal.

Speaking to reporters outside his home, he said: “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m totally innocent from this and I’ll be making a public statement later on.”

Tribunal chairman Adam Lewis QC also ordered that Lee pay costs of £40,000.

A statement from the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) read: “The suspension is to be calculated from 12 October 2012, when the interim suspension was imposed. Therefore Stephen Lee will not be able to participate in snooker before 12 October 2024.”

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: “We take no pride in having to deal with such serious issues. However this demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that snooker is free from corruption.

“It is an important part of our anti-corruption approach that players found to be involved in fixing matches or any aspect of a match are severely dealt with.

“We work closely with partners globally and the message we are sending is that if you get involved in match-fixing you will be found out and removed from the sport.”

The WPBSA had been pushing for a lifetime ban but the organisation’s head of disciplinary Nigel Mawer insisted the 12-year suspension was effectively the same thing.

Mawer said: “We did say we were seeking a life ban because if it was seven matches that had been fixed including during the world championships.

“But in effect it is a life ban because I think it is highly unlikely that Stephen Lee will be able to come back to the sport at this level.

“We don’t take great pleasure out of that — this is a case of a fantastic snooker player who has thrown it all away through making the wrong decisions.”

Lee, who cannot play in any game sanctioned by the WPBSA, has two weeks to appeal the verdict.