Gou Zhongwen Photo: People's Daily

 
Gou Zhongwen has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for severe disciplinary and legal violations during his term as head of the General Administration of Sport of China, including corruption, abuse of power and dereliction of duty, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission (NSC) on Thursday.

Gou, also former deputy head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), acted in ways that severely damaged the political ecosystem of the sports system, according to a statement released by the CCDI and the NSC.

The CCDI findings revealed Gou's violations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's eight-point regulations as he accepted bribes, lavish banquets and unauthorized travel arrangements.

He was also found to have breached principles by authorizing large financial expenditures unilaterally, providing false information during investigation inquiries and leveraging his position to manipulate the selection and appointment of officials for personal gains.

Further investigations disclosed that Gou abused his authority to assist relatives in business ventures, engaged in power-sex trade, mishandled confidential documents during sports-related construction projects and acquisitions, and participated in significant power-for-money exchanges.

His arbitrary decision-making and misuse of power also caused substantial economic losses.

The CCDI said that Gou's actions violated political, organizational, professional and ethical disciplines, constituting serious misconduct and crimes such as bribery and abuse of power.

Gou showed no restraint even after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, compounding the severity and adverse impact of his actions, the statement said.
In accordance with Party and state regulations, the CCDI recommended severe penalties for Gou and this has been approved by the Central Committee of the CPC. Gou has been expelled from the CPC and removed from his public positions. 

Additionally, his illicit gains have been confiscated, and his case, along with related assets, has been referred to judicial authorities for prosecution.