Chinese Runner He Jie’s Victory in Beijing Half Marathon Faces Investigation
Chinese runner He Jie’s victory in the Beijing Half Marathon this past Sunday is under scrutiny after a trio of African runners appeared to deliberately slow down to let him win. Video footage from the race shows Kenyan Willy Mnangat gesturing for He to come forward as they approached the finish line, with fellow Kenyan Robert Keter guiding He to move ahead of the pack. The Chinese runner crossed the finish line in 1:03:44, winning the first prize of US$5,500, while the African trio finished one second behind.
The controversial finish has raised doubts among Chinese internet users, with many calling for an investigation and action from the race organizers. Some netizens emphasized the importance of fairness and sportsmanship in competitions, urging authorities to provide a clear explanation to maintain the integrity of the sport.
The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and the Chinese Athletics Association have stated that they are conducting an investigation into the matter. Chinese sports company Xstep, which sponsors He and the Beijing Half Marathon, confirmed that the situation is being looked into by multiple parties and that more information will be shared soon.
While He Jie is considered one of China’s most promising long-distance runners and is set to lead Asian athletes at the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, sports analysts have raised concerns about the unusual finish in the Beijing Half Marathon. Mark Dreyer, a sports analyst and author, described the incident as a negative image for the sport and questioned the need for such charity towards an elite athlete like He Jie.