Milkyway cleared of match-fixing allegations in LoL investigation

Esports News UK, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 31/03/2026

Cai ‘milkyway’ Zi-Jun has been cleared of match-fixing allegations following a police investigation in China. The decision ends a case that sidelined the former FunPlus Phoenix jungler for months after claims surfaced that he had leaked draft information during the 2024 Demacia Cup.

The ruling matters not just for milkyway’s career, but for a scene still dealing with repeated competitive integrity questions. It also opens the door for the 20-year-old to return to pro play.

What the investigation found

According to a statement published by milkyway on Weibo, police concluded there was no evidence to support the allegations made against him. Reporting from Hotspawn said the original claims centred on leaked screenshots that appeared to show him sharing pick-ban information with outside parties for betting purposes while he was still with RNG during the 2024 Demacia Cup.

Research context around the case says police later determined those chat logs were fabricated and had no connection to the player. FPX suspended milkyway after receiving a whistleblower report in August 2024, and the matter was then handed over to the authorities.

In his statement, milkyway thanked investigators for what he called a “strict and impartial investigation”. He also made clear that he intends to go after those who spread the claims, writing: “The internet is not beyond the reach of the law. In order to protect my legitimate rights and interests, I will pursue legal action and hold every person involved in spreading rumors and defaming me fully accountable.”

A recurring concern in League of Legends esports

This won’t come as a surprise to those who have followed the LPL closely. Match-fixing and betting-related cases have hung over parts of the Chinese competitive scene for years, with earlier sweeps leading to dozens of bans and suspensions across the LPL and LDL.

That backdrop made the accusations against milkyway especially serious, particularly after reports in late 2025 claimed he had already been hit with a lifetime ban. Those claims were never publicly confirmed by the LPL, but the noise around the case did real damage all the same.

The wider point is familiar across esports: integrity systems only work if investigations are thorough and evidence-led. That has been a theme in other recent League stories too, from ongoing discrimination concerns in EMEA LoL esports to Riot’s broader messaging around league operations and standards after First Stand and the evolving LoL esports structure.

Milkyway responds as return to play comes into view

Milkyway ended his statement with a short but telling line: “See you on stage.” For a player once viewed as one of the LPL’s most exciting jungle prospects, that is the clearest sign yet that he is preparing for a competitive return.

FPX had previously denied wider rumours around the organisation and said it would act against what it described as malicious slander, while cooperating with the investigation. No official response from Riot Games or the LPL regarding the clearance had been published at the time of writing.

The case will also likely renew discussion around how teams and players handle serious public accusations before formal findings are complete. That issue has surfaced elsewhere in esports too, including when Fnatic took action over online abuse and involved law enforcement.

For now, the immediate consequence is simple: milkyway is no longer carrying an unresolved integrity cloud over his name. The next question is which team is willing to move first if he does step back onto the LPL stage later this year.

Esports News UK, Senior Editor

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