The Beijing Half Marathon ended with a surprising turn of events, prompting an official investigation following the victory of Chinese runner He Jie on April 14.
The race witnessed unusual circumstances as Ethiopian Dejene Hailu and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat notably slowed down, allowing He to seize the lead and claim victory by a mere one-second margin.
This unexpected sequence of events, coupled with gestures from the other athletes seemingly encouraging He’s win, sparked widespread online speculation and criticism. Some observers raised concerns about potential corruption and suggested that the athletes’ actions might be influenced by low pay within the sport.
As a result, authorities have launched an inquiry to shed light on the matter and address any underlying issues.
A Beijing Sports Bureau spokesperson confirmed, “We are investigating and will announce the results to the public once they are available.” This inquiry seeks to determine the motives behind the incident and maintain the integrity of the competition.”
