NEW YORK - FORMER National Basketball Association referee Tim Donaghy was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 months in prison after being found guilty of helping gamblers and betting on games he officiated.

Donaghy, 41, also received three years probation from US District Court Judge Carol Amon after admitting last year to receiving thousands of dollars for passing confidential information to gamblers and making his own bets on games.

'I brought shame on myself and my family,' Donaghy said.

The sentence was only half the 27 to 33 months demanded by prosecutors. The relatively light punishment reflected Donaghy's cooperation with investigators.

'It could have been a lot worse,' said Mr John Lauro, Donaghy's attorney.

Last week, the same court sentenced Donaghy's former school friends and co-conspirators - professional gambler James Battista and middleman Thomas Martino - to 15 months and 12 months jail respectively.

The disgraced referee was described by his defence lawyers as a pathological gambling addict who needed treatment after almost 15 years of betting on sports and cards.

'Though we believe no sentence would ever be able to repair or justify the damage caused by this criminal and scoundrel, we are glad to finally put this behind us,' said Mr Lamell McMorris, a National Basketball Referees Association spokesman.

The NBA is hoping to clear up the embarrassing scandal before the start of next season in three months, having already changed their officiating staff organisation and looked into Donaghy's actions.

'The NBA looked at the various games he officiated. They concluded that (match-fixing) simply never took place,' Mr Lauro said.

Mr Lawrence Pedowitz, who is looking into the Donaghy affair for the league, said his probe remains ongoing with no timetable for a final report to be delivered to NBA commissioner David Stern.

'I am conducting additional interviews and hope to obtain additional information from the government,' Mr Pedowitz said. 'My review is well-advanced but not complete. I have no final date at this time for the issuance of my report.'

Donaghy also has sparked a wider FBI probe after claiming the corruption spread further.

He said several other officials have been involved in questionable actions in violation of league rules to ensure the credibility of the league, including relationships with coaches, club executives and players.

'This story has not ended,' Mr Lauro said.

Mr Stern, the NBA commissioner, has portrayed Donaghy as a rogue referee who worked alone, insisting that his actions do not undermine the integrity of NBA results.

'We anticipate that the judge's sentencing decision, together with the changes we have made to our referee operations staff, will enable us to continue with the improvements we are making to our anti-gambling rules, policies and procedures,' Mr Stern said in a statement.

'There is little comfort to be gained from the mandatory prison sentence, especially as it affects Mr Donaghy's children and their mother, but hopefully the healing process can begin in earnest for all.'

Donaghy claims there was match-fixing in the 2002 and 2005 NBA play-offs, pointing the finger at NBA referee Dick Bavetta, who is still serving.

According to Donaghy match rigging took place at a 2002 NBA play-off game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings officiated by Bavetta.

Mr Stern has defended Bavetta, noting that while FBI investigators asked about several topics, the only charges brought in their investigation thus far have been against Donaghy.

Donaghy placed bets upon more than 100 NBA games he officiated from 2003 through 2006. -- AFP

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