China’s former Minister of Sports has been handed a death sentence with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty of accepting massive bribes and abusing his position, marking one of the most dramatic corruption verdicts in the country’s sports sector.
According to Chinese state media, the former minister was convicted of taking over $33.4 million in bribes, using his influence to manipulate decisions, secure contracts, and offer political favors in exchange for illegal financial benefits. The court ruled that his actions caused “particularly heavy losses” to the state and severely damaged the integrity of China’s sports administration.
The death sentence, which is expected to be commuted to life imprisonment if no further offenses are committed, underscores President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has swept through government, business, and now heavily into the sports industry.
Investigators revealed that the disgraced official leveraged his powerful role to sway major sporting projects, including facility constructions and international event bids. The court noted that he showed “no genuine remorse,” further justifying the severity of the sentence.
The case has sent shockwaves across China and the global sports community, presenting one of the toughest punishments ever issued in a sports-related corruption case.
Chinese authorities say the ruling is intended to serve as a warning to public officials that corruption — regardless of rank — will be met with uncompromising consequences.
