Badminton Coach Banned Four Years for Betting on Live Match

Former European Championship silver medallist and renowned badminton coach Kenneth Jonassen Persson has been suspended for four years by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after being found guilty of placing live bets during a match at the 2024 Japan Open. Once respected as a top athlete and mentor, most recently coach to world No.3 Anders Antonsen Persson’s reputation has been overshadowed by a serious integrity violation.

Footage recorded by another player reportedly captured Persson placing multiple bets courtside using his mobile phone. The BWF investigation confirmed nine wagers totaling DKK 5,205 (approximately US$810), with seven of those bets winning and paying out DKK 9,821 (around US$1,530). Officials also noted that Persson failed to fully cooperate with the inquiry, aggravating the offence.

The BWF highlighted that Persson’s actions breached strict rules prohibiting any coaches, players, or officials from betting on the sport. His previous disciplinary history and attempts to use a proxy betting account led to one of the harshest sanctions issued by the federation in recent years, underlining the severity of integrity concerns in badminton.

Following the ruling, Danish star Anders Antonsen removed Persson from his coaching team, expressing disappointment over the incident. Persson is barred from all badminton-related activity within BWF governance until 2029.

The BWF emphasized its zero-tolerance policy toward gambling misconduct, noting rising global risks as betting access expands. The federation says it will continue investing in monitoring and education tools to protect competitive fairness. The case serves as a stark reminder that even seasoned professionals are not immune to consequences when integrity rules are breached.