"Relieved suspension is behind us" - Jarno Bottenberg had to be sidelined for three months after sexual harassment complaint

Jarno Bottenberg can look ahead again now that his three-month suspension is behind him. The 22-year-old Dutchman has already qualified for the WDF World Championship, but still hopes to participate in the PDC World Darts Championship.

Bottenberg is having a nasty time of it after suffering a suspension during a Development Tour tournament early this year. "It happened during the first weekend of the Development Tour in Milton Keynes," Bottenberg told the podcast 'Double Top'. "I was with some other players having a drink after a tournament. Suddenly Daan Bastiaansen and I were picked out by security. There was a girl working clearing the tables and she had filed a complaint against us for sexual harassment. However, we had done little to nothing wrong. We were talking among ourselves a bit, asking if she liked her job and if she would possibly go out with us that night. That was all very friendly, but apparently she complained afterwards. She also turned out to be only 17, but there was no way we could have known that."

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WDF tournament

"Eventually we learned that we were suspended for the rest of the weekend, but at that time we didn't know how long that suspension would last. A bit later I wanted to participate in a WDF tournament in Hungary, so I inquired in advance if I could definitely play and the WDF informed me that nothing of a possible suspension was known to them. I eventually reached the last 16 there, but then they suddenly informed me that I was no longer allowed to play because I was suspended. So upon inquiry, the suspension turned out to be three months," he continues.

Bottenberg has since been able to shake off the whole fuss. "Look, I can understand that a girl like that takes it the wrong way, but in the end the suspension was way over the top. We had absolutely no bad intentions and nothing else happened. Fortunately I was recently allowed to play again and I managed to win immediately, a huge boost!"

Because of his win earlier this year at the Dutch Open, Bottenberg is automatically qualified for the WDF World Championship, yet he still hopes to participate in the PDC's World Darts Championship. "TOTO Dart Kings has selected me and five other players they are going to guide towards the World Championship qualifying tournament. I don't know much more about it myself yet, but I'm obviously looking forward to it. They are also taking care of all the expenses."

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