The Beijing Half Marathon, won by China's He Jie, is at the heart of a controversy. The winner was allegedly favored. Video footage of the race shows He Jie, 25, being outdistanced as he approached the finish line by Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, and Ethiopian Dejene Hailu. But the latter seemed to slow down and signal to the Chinese athlete to go ahead. An attitude that sparked an outcry on Chinese social networks. "Sportsmanship is really reduced to nothing, it's a disgrace", complained one Internet user.
Faced with this situation, the organizer assures us that an investigation has been opened."We are investigating and will announce the conclusion to the public when it is known," a Beijing city official in charge of sports told AFP on Monday.
How did 🇨🇳 marathon runner + 🇨🇳 marathon record holder He Jie (何杰) win Beijing Half Marathon on April 14, 2024?
During the race’s final moments, three African runners — Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mgnangat — clumped together, seemingly… pic.twitter.com/x0aVst31ff
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) April 15, 2024
