Xiao Tian, China's deputy minister of Sports and head of FIBA, has been put under investigation for his alleged involvement in graft. (Photo : www.chinatopix.com)
The Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on June 25, Thursday, that it is investigating Xiao Tian, deputy head of China's General Administration for Sport, for suspected "serious breaches of discipline and the law," the China Daily reported.
The statement released by the CDDI gave no details about the investigation into Xiao Tian, with rank equivalent to that of a vice-minister.
According to the report, Xiao, who was a former provincial fencer from East China's Anhui Province before working for the sport ministry in 1981, was appointed as the country's deputy sports head in Aug. 2005.
In 1998, Xiao took charge of China's winter sports and four years later, led China to its historic Winter Olympic gold medal at the Salt Lake Olympics.
The anti-graft watchdog sport said that it is investigating the sports-governing body for violation of rules involving talent selection, match-fixing and the operation of events.
From July to September, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection sent a group to inspect the operation of the GASC and its affiliated event-governing centers.
The report said that the inspection was also part of another major anti-corruption campaign in China's sports arena following the crackdown on match-fixing and graft in soccer in 2010.
In early 2013, the Chinese Football Association had announced that 33 individuals, including several former top soccer officials, well-known referees and ex-national players, and 12 clubs will be punished for their involvement in game cheating and corruption scandals after a nationwide investigation in 2010.
