2 Kenyans, 1 Ethiopian Accused Of Fixing Half Marathon To Favour Chinese Runner

Chinese runner He Jie’s victory in the Beijing Half Marathon has sparked controversy and is currently under investigation. Chinese internet users raised concerns after three African runners appeared to deliberately slow down to let He Jie win .

Video footage of the race’s finish shows Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat gesturing for He Jie to move ahead as the four runners were neck and neck just meters from the finish line. Former 5km world record-holder Robert Keter, also from Kenya, then waved for He Jie to overtake the pack while signaling for his compatriot and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu to hang back. He Jie crossed the finish line in 1:03:44, claiming the $5,500 first prize, with the African trio just one second behind in joint-second place.

The controversial finish has led to calls for an investigation by Chinese internet users, who believe that the fairness of the competition was compromised. Some users emphasized the importance of fairness and maintaining the integrity of sports competitions

The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and Chinese Athletics Association, the race organizers, have stated that they attach great importance to the matter and are conducting an investigation . Chinese sports company Xstep, which sponsors He Jie and the Beijing Half Marathon, has also confirmed that the situation is being investigated and verified by multiple parties .

Sports analyst Mark Dreyer commented on the unusual finish, stating that it was not a sprint finish for anyone other than He Jie. He emphasized that He Jie, as an elite runner, does not need charity and that the finish did not demonstrate sportsmanship.

He Jie, who is considered one of China’s most promising long-distance runners, has broken China’s marathon record twice in the past two years. He is ranked 77th in the world in men’s marathon by World Athletics and is expected to lead the way for Asian runners in the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.