Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian caught up in prostitution scandal allegations

Retired Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian found himself at the center of a growing sex scandal on Thursday, after the former NBA player was accused of sleeping with a prostitute.

The 36-year-old father of two, considered the second best Chinese player of all time behind Yao Ming, and who played for the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks between 2007 and 2012, had a relationship services to women in a hotel in mainland China.

Pictures purportedly showing a half-naked Yi, who is married to model Jing Ling, and an ID card showing a man who bears a striking resemblance to the seven-time Chinese Basketball Association champion have started circulating on social media this week.

Although Yi has yet to comment, fans took to social media to defend the 7-foot-tall Guangdong Southern Tigers star, with many claiming the footage appeared altered.

“It is obvious that this incident about Yi was fake news. A fake ID card, a fake nude photo, this must be a conspiracy,” wrote one Weibo user with 350,000 followers.

Another Weibo user from Liaoning added, “It’s definitely fake, I trust Yi’s character, he’s someone who grew up from dirt without being tainted.”