David Gilbert insists any snooker player found guilty of match-fixing should be banished from the sport "forever".
The biggest match-fixing investigation in snooker history has cast a dark cloud over the the prestigious Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace this week.
Ten Chinese players are currently suspended from World Snooker events amid an ongoing probe into 'manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes'.
Top 16 players Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong are the highest-profile names barred from competition during the unprecedented investigation, and the duo will miss the showpiece in North London.
Gilbert has been unexpectedly drafted into the first round draw after being next in line to replace Chinese star Yan at the coveted invitational event.
And the outspoken 'Angry Farmer' agrees with former world champion Shaun Murphy's assertion that anyone found guilty of fixing matches should be slapped with a lifetime ban.
"I totally agree with what Shaun Murphy said. 1000 per cent," Gilbert told the Metro. "I don’t want to comment much because we don’t know, we’re all speculating, guessing. But my thing is, if you’ve put money on yourself to lose a frame or matches, you’re gone forever."
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson revealed before the Masters got under way on Sunday that the match-fixing investigation is close to reaching its conclusion.
But Ferguson also suggested that lifetime bans were highly unlikely in this probe, with varying punishments based on the severity of offences made.
World no.18 Gilbert, however, has made it clear he will have no time whatsoever for players found gulty, regardless of the level of punishments dished out.
"I don’t ever want to see you in the practice room, the players’ room or sat opposite playing me," he added.
"I don’t want to look at you, I don’t want to shake your hand, I don’t want to wish you well if you beat me. I want nothing to do with you. If you’re proven to have done that, I don’t want you near me."
The other players currently sidelined during the investigation are Zhang Jiankang, Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu and Chen Zifan.
