The dean of Harvard’s School of Public Health (SPH) recently reprimanded a professor at the school for efforts to silence media investigations of his research.

Xu Xiping, associate professor of occupational epidemiology at SPH, was the subject of a lengthy investigative report in the Washington Post last December. The story accused Xu of possibly unethical practices in his field work in China as part of a genetics research project.

According to two articles written by the Post this summer, as a result of this critical story and a similar story which later appeared in a Chinese news magazine, Xu sent two letters to Chinese government officials urging them to ban or censor further reporting about genetic research in China.

According to the Post, he also wrote a letter to a top Chinese scientist accusing the Post—which he called a newspaper “which has long been manipulated by anti-China forces”—of attempting to “stir up trouble in China.”

In response to these reports, SPH Dean Barry R. Bloom informed Xu in a letter earlier this summer that his actions in attempting to silence the media were highly inappropriate and could lead to punishment by the University.

“I must officially disassociate myself and the School from any actions you have taken to attempt to interfere in any way with, or seek reprisals against, anyone who has taken legitimate steps to raise issues about your research in China,” wrote Bloom according to a copy of the letter dated June 26 obtained by the Post.

SPH spokesperson Kevin Myron confirmed that Bloom did send a letter to Xu, but would not publicly release its content. However, he did not dispute the text printed by the Post.

“The letter stands on its own,” Myron said. “The School of Public Health has no further comment.”