Chinese Star He Jie Wins Beijing Half Marathon Amid Allegations of Deliberate Pacing by African Athletes
In a controversial turn of events, Chinese star He Jie won the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday with a time of 1 hour, 03 minutes, and 44 seconds. However, allegations have surfaced that three African athletes intentionally allowed He Jie to win the race.
The video footage showed Kenyan runners Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, along with Ethiopian runner Dejene Hailu, visibly slowing down and pointing towards the finish line before letting He Jie take the lead. This has raised suspicions that the three athletes were acting as pacemakers or “rabbits” for He Jie.
Mnangat, one of the athletes accused of pacing He Jie, claimed that they were hired to help He Jie break the Chinese half-marathon record. However, he denied any wrongdoing, stating that their job was to set the pace for He Jie and assist him in achieving his goal.
The results of the race have sparked outrage among Chinese netizens, with many questioning the integrity of the competition. The Beijing Half Marathon organizing committee has launched an investigation into the incident, promising to provide updates to the public once the inquiry is completed.
Chinese sports brand Xtep, the event sponsor, expressed that they are still verifying the situation and will release further information soon. Meanwhile, World Athletics issued a statement emphasizing the importance of integrity in sports and confirming their awareness of the ongoing investigation.
He Jie, who previously won the marathon gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, remains at the center of the controversy. The incident has ignited a storm on Chinese social media platforms, with users expressing disappointment and calling into question the sportsmanship of the athletes involved.
As the investigation continues, the future implications for He Jie and the African athletes remain uncertain. The outcome of the probe will determine whether the accusations of deliberate pacing in the Beijing Half Marathon hold true, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory victory for He Jie.