Xiao Tian, former deputy director of China's General Administration of Sport, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office for violations of the Party code of conduct. He is the highest-ranking sports official to be investigated to date.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) found that Xiao was in "serious breaches of discipline and law," a statement said on Thursday.

It accused him of violating CPC rules by interfering with and stalling the investigation, and colluding with others to hide funds and property.

The probe also found that Xiao exploited his position to help his family, sought profits for others by promoting officials and business operations and took bribes, the report said.

As a senior Party official, Xiao showed no intention of disciplining himself and stopping his wrongdoings even after the 18th National Congress of the CPC when the new leadership launched the anti-corruption campaign, the statement said. The Supreme People's Procuratorate later arrested Xiao and opened an investigation into the allegations.