In probably the most weird race finishes in current reminiscence, Chinese language marathoner Jie He was given the win at Sunday’s Beijing Half Marathon on a silver platter after three East African athletes slowed down for him to interrupt the tape.
Following the race, footage of the complicated end circulated on the Chinese language social media platform Weibo, sparking scrutiny. On Tuesday, World Athletics addressed the matter, stating that they’re conscious of what happened and that there’s an ongoing investigation by native authorities into the incident.
The African athletes, who’re all sponsored by the Chinese language working shoe model Xtep, claimed that they have been to function pacemakers for He to interrupt the Chinese language half-marathon report of 62:33. Nonetheless, the three athletes ending the race raised suspicions, as pacers usually drop out and don’t cross the end line.
Many at the moment are questioning the integrity of He’s victory, particularly contemplating how a lot he struggled within the last metres of the race, compared to the three East African athletes. The incident doubtlessly violates World Athletics Competitors Rule article 4.1, which prohibits any deliberate actions aimed toward altering the result of an occasion for an athlete’s private achieve.
Organisers of the Beijing half marathon are investigating claims that three African athletes allowed China’s star runner He Jie to win the race.
Footage appeared to point out the athletes pointing to the road and slowing down earlier than waving previous He. @BBCAfrica pic.twitter.com/VZfKN86OCa
— Automobile Trackers (@VehicleTrackerz) April 16, 2024
He shall be a member of China’s marathon group on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, holding a private finest of two:06:58 from the Wuxi Marathon final month. Regardless of He’s notable achievements internationally, the state of affairs round his victory within the Beijing Half Marathon has solid a shadow over his status.
Whereas many speculate the motives behind the East African athletes’ actions, one runner, Willy Mnangat of Kenya, instructed BBC Africa that he was not in Beijing to compete. “It was not a aggressive race for me,” he mentioned.
This isn’t the primary time this 12 months {that a} main race in China has come beneath scrutiny. On the 2024 Xiamen Marathon, 15 of the 22 worldwide elite athletes both didn’t begin or didn’t end, regardless of the sphere being dubbed “the quickest marathon pack ever assembled” by World Athletics. Chinese language media later known as out the elites for amassing look charges.
