FunPlus Phoenix jungler Cai “Milkyway” Zi-Jun has been benched indefinitely after serious match-fixing allegations surfaced, throwing his competitive future into question.

The suspension, announced on Wednesday, stems from claims that Milkyway leaked confidential draft information during the 2024 Demacia Cup, back when he was still playing for Royal Never Give Up. According to screenshots making the rounds on Chinese social media site Weibo, the alleged leaks were passed to outsiders who then placed bets on champion picks.

Translated FPX official statement | Image via FPX Weibo Account

If proven true, the offence would be considered both a draft leak and betting manipulation, two of the most severe rule breaches in Chinese League of Legends history, often punished with lifetime bans.

The 2024 Demacia Cup Connection

The 2024 Demacia Cup ran from December 16–29 in Shanghai, featuring LPL, LDL, and invited teams. RNG, with Milkyway in the roster at the time, didn’t make much of a splash, finishing without a win in their group.

The tournament itself was won by Anyone’s Legend, a breakthrough moment that set them up as one of the league’s top dogs. But now, months later, the event risks being remembered for an entirely different reason.

FPX’s Response

In their translated statement on Weibo, FPX stressed they were committed to a clean competitive scene.

Translated FPX Statement | Image via FPX Weibo Account

The org also made it clear that unrelated rumours of match-fixing within FPX were “completely baseless” and promised to take legal action against what they called “malicious slander.”

Waiting on Riot and the LPL

As it stands, Riot China and the LPL have yet to hand down an official ruling. Milkyway has been removed from all matches and training while the investigation unfolds.

If the allegations are confirmed, he could be staring down one of the harshest penalties possible: a lifetime ban. That would see him join a long list of LPL and LDL players permanently banned for betting-related offences, a trend that saw 35 individuals suspended or banned in a 2021 crackdown alone.

For now, all eyes are on the league’s investigation. Until then, Milkyway’s career hangs in the balance.

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