Corruption Scandal Hits Beijing Olympic Bid VP

(ATR) Allegations of graft surround a Chinese sports leader, who is both a vice president of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic bid and international basketball federation FIBA.

Xiao Tian is being investigated for serious graft, the ruling Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog said on Thursday without going into details, according to reports from China.

Xiao, the deputy head of China's General Administration of Sport and a vice chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee, faces allegations of "serious breaches of discipline and the law," reports Reuters.

Xiao took responsibility for China's winter sports development in 1998. He steered China to a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, China Daily reports.

The corruption allegations are the first major scandal of what has so far been a low-key two-city race for the 2022 Winter Games. Almaty, Kazakhstan is the other contender.

News of the scandal comes just a month before the IOC vote in Kuala Lumpur on July 31.

The Beijing bid told Around the Rings it would not affect China’s quest to land the Games.

"Given the details of the investigation have yet to be heard and the matter is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further," a spokesperson told ATR Thursday.

"Beijing 2022's focus remains on our bid and efforts to present the best possible plan for the Games in 2022."

He declined to comment when asked if Xiao would be forced to step down from the 2022 bid team.

In a statement sent toATR, FIBA leaders said, "FIBA has taken note of the fact that Mr. Xiao Tian has been placed under investigation in China. This investigation appears to be part of the on-going national anti-corruption campaign in that country.

"Mr. Xiao Tian was elected vice-president during the last central board meeting in September 2014 in Sevilla, Spain. Therefore, Mr. Xiao Tian has not been active for FIBA as its Vice-President or in any other capacity to-date.

"FIBA is waiting to receive official communication with more details from the Chinese Basketball Association and has not been contacted by the Chinese authorities.

"The FIBA Executive Committee will discuss next week further developments in this matter in line with the FIBA General Statutes and Internal Regulations."

The next meeting of FIBA's central board will take place in Tokyo,Aug. 7-9.

The corruption investigation is part of China president Xi Jinping’s concerted efforts to root out graft in government ranks - and particularly soccer - since he came to power in 2013.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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