Chinese chess: Xiangqi champion suspended for bad behaviour

Yan Chenglong, a champion of Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, has been stripped of his title due to allegations of misconduct. He has also been accused of cheating by using a communication device similar to anal beads. The 48-year-old has been banned from participating in the game for a year. However, the Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) states that it's impossible to substantiate the cheating allegations. Xiangqi has been a widely enjoyed game across Asia for centuries.

According to the CXA, after winning the title of 'Xiangqi King' at a national tournament on the Chinese island of Hainan, Mr Yan began drinking with friends in his hotel room. He then defecated in the bathtub of his room, an act that the CXA statement described as damaging hotel property and violating public order and good morals. The CXA was compelled to address online rumours that Mr Yan had cheated using anal beads equipped with wireless transmitters to send and receive signals. 'Based on our understanding of the situation, it's currently impossible to prove that Yan engaged in cheating via 'anal beads' as speculated on social media,' the CXA stated.

As a penalty for his misconduct, Mr Yan was stripped of his title and banned from playing for a year. The association did not disclose the amount of prize money Yan was forfeiting, but Xiangqi tournaments often promise winners tens of thousands of yuan (thousands of dollars), according to AFP.