A young official had ranked at the bottom of a test for the government job she was recently promoted to, renewing netizens’ doubts over her promotion.

Dong Haitao's score was the lowest among 25 candidates running for a deputy mayor job at Donggang city, Liaoning province, according to Chinese media reports.

Dong, 31, the former director of the foreign affairs office at Eastern Liaoning University, was promoted to deputy mayor of Donggang city?earlier this month.

The promotion was questioned by netizens due to her age and the fact that her husband's uncle is a senior official of the Liaoning provincial government.

Local authorities insisted that the promotion was done according to the law, the People's Daily reported on Monday.

Related stories:

Guangzhou officials probed over alleged graft

Retired official investigated over sexual harassment

Official sacked, 49 others disciplined in Hubei

China's State Council appoints new officials

3 held over official's property scandal