China’s former deputy sports minister, who once sat on the mainland’s Olympics committee, will be prosecuted for graft after an investigation found he abused his position and took bribes, the Communist Party’s corruption watchdog said on Thursday. Xiao Tian, who as a deputy head of the General Administration of Sport held a position equivalent to that of a vice minister, had abused his position to get his wife promotions, took bribes, spent government money on banquets and had private companies arrange for him to play golf, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said. He also sought benefits for others” in approving sports competitions and “sports industry operation” the anti-graft watchdog added, without elaborating. Corruption in international sports is in focus because of a US and Swiss investigation into world soccer body, Fifa In July, Beijing – the host city of the 2008 Summer Olympics – won the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. China, which is aggressively seeking to stamp out corruption in party and government ranks, has also sought to eject corrupt elements from its sports establishment, especially within soccer, which has been hit by match-fixing scandals. Xiao had actively sought to interfere in the investigation into him, shifting funds around and engaging in a “conspiracy of silence”, the CCDI said. He had been expelled from the party and his case handed over the legal authorities, it added, which means he will face prosecution. It was not possible to reach Xiao for comment and not clear if he has a lawyer. President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping battle against corruption upon assuming power three years ago, including trying to get back suspects that have fled overseas, especially to popular destinations like the US and Canada. In a separate statement, the watchdog said that United States had deported another suspect, named as Kuang Wanfang, who fled to the US in 2001. READ MORE: Beijing's most wanted: US repatriates one of the leading 'Sky Net' fugitives days before Xi Jinping's visit Last week China hailed the return by the US of China’s most prominent fugitives wanted for corruption as good progress and a foundation for cooperation days before Xi began his landmark US visit. The failure by China to secure the return of suspects from the US has been an irritant in ties. The US had said it was not averse to cooperating on the issue, but that China had often failed to produce the kind of evidence of criminality needed under US law to support deportation.