The Beijing Half Marathon has sparked controversy due to suspicions that the African runners intentionally slowed down to let Chinese athlete He Jie win the race. He Jie, a promising long-distance runner from China, emerged victorious in the race with a time of 1:03:44.Â
Video footage from the event shows Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat gesturing for He Jie to move ahead just meters from the finish line, with other African runners seemingly allowing He Jie to take the lead without contesting it.
Following public outcry and calls for an investigation from Chinese internet users, both local and international sports authorities have responded. The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and Chinese Athletics Association stated that they are investigating the matter. Additionally, World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport, acknowledged the footage and mentioned that they are aware of the ongoing investigation by local authorities.
Willy Mnangat later admitted to letting He Jie win because of their friendship.
Kenyan runners, Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, along with Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu Bikila, crossed the finish line just one second behind He Jie, all tying for second place with a time of 1:03:45. However, the circumstances of his victory led to criticism and embarrassment, particularly on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo.
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