Police in Poyang County announced yesterday that the stepmother is innocent. Bruises covering the girl's body were caused by a fall, "since she suffers a poor blood clotting function," said Cao Haipeng, an official from Shangrao City, which governs Poyang.

The girl, surnamed Ding, was transferred to Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital on Friday from her hometown. Her case aroused widespread attention after her birth mother reportedly told police and media that her stepmother beat the girl.

Cao said it was not clear whether further investigation will be needed to find out how the accusations spread through the Internet, which featured pictures of Ding's bruised body and aroused wide public attention.

A Netizen called zhuanzhipiancha said through a forum on sina.com.cn over the weekend that the entire story was a "white lie." He said one of his friends spread the story to help Ding's family get public attention to treat the girl's disease.

Ding's stepmother is unemployed and the whole family depends on her father's 600 yuan (US$79) monthly income working in a funeral home.

Officials from Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital were reluctant to release details of Ding's treatment yesterday after a request from the girl's parents. However, they disclosed that she does not have hemophilia, a blood-clotting disorder.

"She has a more complicated blood syndrome resulting in poor clotting. Further examination will be done to confirm the disease," said hospital official Li Nan, adding the hospital has set up an account for social donations to cover the girl's medical expenses.

Shanghai Daily failed to contact Ding's birth mother yesterday, who had turned off her cell phone.