By Evert Caldwell
Garrett Adelstein should be banned from playing all major poker events (WPT, WSOP, TRITON, HUSTLER LIVE, BALLY LIVE, etc.), till at least 2025. He shouldn’t be allowed to just waltz back in and play like he’s done nothing wrong.
He accused someone of cheating. He claimed he had proof but produced none. He’s still holding $135k that doesn’t rightfully belong to him. He upended lives and cast a dark cloud of suspicion on numerous innocent people and a reputable casino. He’s responsible for a costly, time-consuming investigation that turned up nothing.
The punishment for not being able to back up your allegations with hard proof, should be similar to what would have been imposed on the accused cheater(s) had she/they been found guilty. A year is actually quite lenient, but it would set a precedent nonetheless.
If there are no repercussions against those who accuse others of cheating without hard facts, it will continue, and more innocents will be hurt – just like what we saw at the 2023 WSOP with Martin Kabrhel.
While Kabrhel dismantled the allegations against himself and mocked Doug Polk and others for their role in sensationalizing scandals, the damage to his reputation was already done.
To Kabrhel, the toughest part in all this likely wasn’t answering to Polk – but to his kids questioning, “Why are the media writing that daddy is cheater?”
#PunishFalseAccusers
