China’s anti-corruption body probes badminton association chief Zhang Jun
Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, who is also vice-president of Nanjing Sport Institute, has been placed ‘under disciplinary review’
China’s top anti-corruption body said on Wednesday it was investigating the head of the country’s badminton association for “serious violations of discipline and law”.
Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA) and vice-president of the Nanjing Sport Institute, has been placed “under disciplinary review”, it said on its website.
Jun is also being investigated by the Nantong Municipal Supervisory Commission in eastern Jiangsu province, the statement added.
The statement by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission did not give details on why Zhang was being probed but said he was “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law” – a phrase commonly used in China when referring to corruption.
Since coming to power, President Xi Jinping has pushed to root out graft – an effort that has intensified in recent months.
Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) – China’s top military body headed by Xi – and a member of the Politburo, was placed under investigation in January.
Another Politburo official, Ma Xingrui, was probed too, Chinese state media reported in April.