Former Chinese Olympic Official Probed for Graft
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Chen Yingbiao. Photo: VCG
A former high-ranking Chinese sports official is under investigation for corruption, a little over a year after he won a defamation lawsuit against a whistleblower who had publicly accused him of graft.
Chen Yingbiao, the former director of China’s National Olympic Sports Center, is being investigated for “serious violations of discipline and law,” the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog announced on Saturday. The phrase is the Communist Party’s typical euphemism for corruption.
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- Former top Chinese sports official Chen Yingbiao is under investigation for corruption, after previously winning a libel case against whistleblower Liu Kai.
- Chen, influential in China's sports administration, held roles including director of the National Olympic Sports Center and led major reforms in rugby and soccer.
- His probe is part of a wider anti-graft campaign involving over a dozen sports officials; official details of his case remain undisclosed.
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What Happened When
- By June 2018：
- Chen Yingbiao was promoted to director of the Small Ball Sports Management Center.
- 2019：
- Chen was appointed president of the Chinese Rugby Association.
- Late 2021：
- Chen was appointed director of the National Olympic Sports Center.
- 2022：
- The national women’s soccer team, under Chen’s brief leadership, won the Asian Cup.
- April 2024：
- The National Olympic Sports Center responded to the court stating its disciplinary committee had never received a formal complaint from Liu about Chen.
- May 2024：
- The Beijing Internet Court ruled in favor of Chen Yingbiao in his defamation lawsuit against Liu Kai.
- October 2024：
- Chen was removed from his posts at the National Olympic Sports Center and processed for retirement.
- Early 2025：
- The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) specifically highlighted sports administration as a focus for systemic cleanup.
- April 2025：
- Chen was elected president of the Chinese Hockey Association.
- May 2025：
- Gou Zhongwen, former director of the General Administration of Sport, was detained.
- Saturday, October 12, 2025：
- China’s top anti-corruption watchdog announced the investigation of Chen Yingbiao for 'serious violations of discipline and law.'
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