saltman banned for cheating

Published: 19 January 2011 Last updated: 27 June 2013

Scotland’s Elliot Saltman has been banned for three months from competing on the European Tour for cheating during an event in Russia last year.

The 28-year-old’s ban will start on January 19, a statement from European Tour chief George O’Grady said.

The tournament committee met on Tuesday and “unanimously” found Saltman guilty of breaching a regulation during the first round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup on September 16, 2010, the statement read.

“It was the finding of the tournament committee that Elliot Saltman… be suspended from participating in all European Tour and Challenge Tour sanctioned tournaments for a period of three months, starting on January 19, 2011,” it said.

Saltman, who was disqualified last September for incorrectly marking his ball, and his two playing partners in Russia – the English pair of Marcus Higley and Stuart Davis – attended the disciplinary hearing.

While playing in the qualifying school in Spain last November, the player admitted of breaking the rules in Russia.

“I accepted what was said at the time because I was in shock at the time and I didn’t want to be labelled a cheat,” Saltman, who has 28 days to lodge an appeal before the European Tour board, had said.

“I am sorry now that I didn’t stand up for myself. It affects not only me but my family.

“I don’t want to be labelled as a cheat. Nobody wants that reputation.”

Saltman and his brother Lloyd gained full membership on the European Tour in November.

“It was a very delicate issue and suffice to say in my time on the committee we never have had an issue like that and hopefully we won’t again,” tournament players committee member Paul Casey said.

The statement from the European Tour reads:

At a Disciplinary Hearing of The European Tour Tournament Committee in Abu Dhabi on January 18, 2011, the Committee unanimously found that Elliot Saltman had committed a serious breach of the 2010 Challenge Tour Members Regulation F 1 (b) 6 (Rules of Golf) during the first round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup on September 16 2010 at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, Moscow, Russia.

It was the finding of the Tournament Committee that Elliot Saltman, who was disqualified from the M2M Russian Challenge Cup, be suspended from participating in all European Tour and Challenge Tour sanctioned tournaments for a period of three months, starting on January 19, 2011.

Under Challenge Tour regulations Elliot Saltman, who attended the Disciplinary Hearing in Abu Dhabi, has the right to lodge an appeal before the Board of The European Tour. This appeal must be lodged within 28 days.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.