The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and The Guardian published on 30 August 2025 an investigative report detailing sportswear brands, professional sports teams and tournaments' links with forced labor risks in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The investigation reveals that several major Chinese sportswear brands — Li-Ning, Anta, and 361 Degrees — as well Nike, are linked to China’s Xinjiang labour transfer scheme. These brands either directly own or source from factories that employ Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz workers under conditions described as coercive. Evidence includes videos from workers describing extreme working conditions and factory records confirming the use of transferred labour. Denials from Nike contradicted supply chain evidences, which indicated their sourcing relationship with shoemaker Fulgent Sun.

Also underscored was how Chinese corporations accused of forced labour exploitation, including Haier, Midea, TCL, and Hisense, have been able to promote through global sports sponsorships. These companies sponsor major international tournaments (Australian Open, FIFA World Cup, UEFA events) and partner with elite clubs and athletes, including Arsenal and Erling Haaland.

The investigation highlights how the NBA has suppressed or distanced itself from voices challenging abuses in China. NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom’s activism — wearing shoes emblazoned with anti-forced labour messages — led to Celtics games being blacklisted in China and coincided with the premature end of his NBA career, according to the report.

Upon invitation to respond by TBIJ, Li-Ning said it strictly prohibits forced labour and audits its suppliers under a “zero-tolerance” policy, while Haier denied involvement but promised to investigate specific allegations. Hisense asserted it had not participated in any forced labour transfers. Nike disputed the evidence, maintaining it had ended relations with implicated factories years earlier. Anta, 361 Degrees, Midea, TCL, Fifa, the Australian Open, and player representatives for NBA stars did not respond or declined to comment.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Center reached out to Arsenal FC to comment on their reported partnership with Chinese electronics brand TCL.