( CNN ) -- The 2009 snooker world champion John Higgins has said his `` conscience is clear '' following allegations of match fixing . British newspaper The News of the World claimed the 34-year-old accepted a $ 398,000 bribe to throw frames in future matches during a meeting with undercover reporters in Kiev , Ukraine . However , in a statement read out on the BBC , the Scotsman denied ever intentionally losing a match or taking a bribe at any point in his career . `` My conscience is 100 percent clear , '' said Higgins . `` I have never been involved in any form of snooker match fixing ... I have never deliberately missed a shot , never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match . '' Snooker 's governing body -- The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association ( WPBSA ) -- announced through an official statement that Higgins had been suspended from future tournaments pending an investigation . The same statement confirmed his manager , Pat Mooney , resigned from his position on the board of the WPBSA after he was alleged to have been at the meeting with Higgins in Kiev . The three-time world champion claimed clearing his name will be the biggest challenge of his career and he will assist snooker authorities with the forthcoming investigation . `` Today is the start of the biggest match of my life . I will co-operate fully with the snooker authorities . I have built my reputation on honesty and integrity . '' Higgins is one of the most successful snooker players in history and has won game 's top prize on three occasions , taking last year 's championship in addition to previous triumphs in 1998 and 2007 . This is not the first time controversy of this kind has hit the sport . In 2006 Australian Quinten Hann was given an eight-year ban from the sport when he was found guilty of breaking rules relating to match-fixing . Match fixing in sport is frequently linked to illegal betting syndicates , where bribes are offered to influence the outcomes of sporting events . Simon Clare , a spokesperson for British-based bookmakers Coral , believes worldwide regulations on gambling would prevent illegal betting . `` The sports betting market is absolutely immense , it 's millions [ of dollars ] a week being bet . When there is those sums of money changing hands , if it 's not a regulated betting market , if people are n't license holders , then there 's more to gain for them '' said Clare . With the British betting market heavily regulated , Clare believes there would be no benefit for companies like Coral in taking these risks . It is in coutries where gambling is illegal that Clare says the problem lies . `` There 's nothing to gain for a legal , licensed firm to be involved in corruption because it would be the end of a very lucrative business for them . ''
A British newspaper claims John Higgins accepted a bribe to throw frames in future matches . `` My conscience is 100 per cent clear , '' said Higgins . The Sunday Times says the former Irish international was paid £25,000 by an undercover reporter posing as a Russian agent who wanted to help Higgins.