Photo Credit: Weibo
An inquiry has been launched following the circulation of footage from the finish line of the Beijing half-marathon, sparking speculation about whether fellow athletes assisted a Chinese runner in winning the race.
The viral video captures Kenyan runners Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, along with Ethiopian runner Dejene Hailu, running alongside Chinese athlete Jie He, 25, as they navigate the course together. At a pivotal moment, one of the runners near He gestures, seemingly signaling him to move ahead, resulting in He crossing their path. The runners maintain their formation until the very end, with He clinching victory by a narrow one-second margin.
In the aftermath, He was awarded the first-place medal, while the trio of Keter, Mnangat, and Hailu were declared joint second-place finishers. This outcome sparked criticism on social media platforms in China, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the race.
The Beijing Sports Bureau confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating that results will be disclosed once available, according to AFP.
World Athletics, the organizing body behind the half-marathon held on April 14, acknowledged the existence of the video and the ensuing investigation. They emphasized their commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport, refraining from further comment until the inquiry concludes.
He, a gold medalist in the marathon at the 2023 Asian Games, holds China's record in the event. On Chinese social media platform Weibo, users expressed dismay, labeling the race as "the most embarrassing title" of He's career and condemning the incident for tarnishing the spirit of sportsmanship.
Jeff Ian
