Panel suspends IPL teams over betting scandal

AFP/New Delhi

Two teams from cricket's Indian Premier League were on Tuesday suspended for two years by a Supreme Court-appointed panel after team officials were found guilty of illegally betting on matches.

Chennai Super Kings, led by India's one-day international captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Rajasthan Royals, skippered by star Australian batsman Steve Smith, were the two franchises punished by the Rajendra Mal Lodha panel in a massive blow to the eight-team tournament.

Gurunath Meiyappan -- the son-in-law of the Chennai franchise owner and the current boss of the International Cricket Council Narayanaswami Srinivasan -- was suspended for life from cricket-related activities.

A similar suspension was imposed on Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Rajasthan team and husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

"Their conduct has affected the image of the game, the players and others associated with the tournament," Lodha, a former chief justice, told reporters while revealing his panel's verdict.

Asked about the financial losses of players from the two teams, Lodha said: "We did not consider financial losses to players and teams. That is not significant. The integrity of the game is what matters."