Society
Beijing half-marathon probes 'embarrassing' win by Chinese runner
Cheating is a problem in Chinese long-distance running events. In a 2018 Shenzhen half-marathon, 258 runners cheated by taking shortcuts. During the 2019 Xuzhou International Marathon, a woman ignored officials' orders to dismount a rental bike.
![Gold medalist He Jie of China celebrates following the conclusion of the men's marathon final during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. [William West/AFP]](/gc4/images/2024/04/18/46426-marathon2-600_384.webp)
By AFP |
BEIJING -- The booming popularity of road running in China has "exposed problems," the country's top athletics body said on April 16, after a half-marathon went viral because of its bizarre finish.
Widely shared online footage showed three African runners deliberately allowing China's He Jie to win.
Video clips of the April 14 race showed the Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia and home runner He approaching the finish.
The three African runners can be seen pointing to the finish line and waving He out in front while appearing to slow down.
He, the 2023 Asian Games marathon gold medalist, won by one second.
The four had stuck together throughout the course, which extends just more than 21km, a broadcaster noted.
"We are investigating and will announce the results to the public once they are available," a person from the Beijing Sports Bureau, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP.
The event's organizer -- the Beijing Sports Competition Management and International Exchange Center -- also said an investigation had been launched.
Half-marathon fiasco
The incident received significant attention on the Chinese social media site Weibo, with some users criticizing what they saw as an "embarrassing" result.
"This will certainly be the most embarrassing championship in He Jie's career," one wrote.
"With such a major organizer and such a well-known event, this really pushes sportsmanship to the ground in shame," the post said.
Track and field's international body said it was "aware" of the footage online and the investigation into it.
"The integrity of our sport is the highest priority at World Athletics; while this investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide further comment," spokesman Jamie Fox told AFP.
Chinese track-and-field leaders met on April 16 and afterward issued a statement vowing to make improvements -- without mentioning the controversial race.
"Since the spring of 2024 road-running events have been held across the country and people are enthusiastic about participating," the Chinese Athletics Association said after that meeting.
"Overall, the events have been running smoothly."
"But they have also exposed problems in event organization and management which have aroused widespread social concern."
Long-distance running has boomed in recent years among China's middle class, but there have been numerous instances of cheating and poor organization.
In 2018, at a half-marathon in Shenzhen, 258 runners were found to have cheated, including many who took shortcuts.
Traffic cameras caught them darting through trees to join a different part of the race.
In 2019, a woman was filmed riding a green rental bike in the Xuzhou International Marathon in eastern China.
She was ordered by race officials to dismount the bike, only to get back on again afterward.