Former rugby league player Ryan Tandy has avoided jail after he was found guilty of lying to the Crime Commission about the NRL betting scandal.
Magistrate Clare Farnan sentenced Tandy in Sydney's Downing Centre Local court today to a six month jail sentence by way of an Intensive Correction Order (ICO).
It is a sentence option that can include community service, strict supervision and possible curfews, depending on the conditions imposed by the court.
The ex-NRL player, 30, was found guilty of giving false evidence in January 2011 to the NSW Crime Commission about his betting activities with jockey manager John Schell.
The offence carried a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.Magistrate Farnan ordered Tandy's sentence to start on January 20.
Tandy was acquitted of two other charges relating to evidence he gave the Crime Commission in its investigation of match-fixing.
The court previously heard Tandy placed a number of bets with a professional punter named Damien Flower through Mr Schell during a two-week period in 2010.
Questioned by the Crime Commission about when he had last used a bookmaker or ''any other person who was gambling'', Tandy replied he couldn't give a time because ''it was years ago''.
In October, Tandy was found guilty of match-fixing and was fined $4000 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for interfering with the outcome of a game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys in August 2010.
He is appealing the decision.
AAP