Three African athletes have been stripped of their medals after a controversial finish at the Beijing half marathon.
It was alleged that the runners deliberately allowed China’s He Jie to win the race. Footage showed the athletes pointing to the line and slowing down to let He pass.
The race’s organizing committee conducted an investigation and found that the athletes were not registered as pacemakers for He, violating competition rules. As a result, all trophies, medals, and bonuses will be recovered, and the results have been cancelled.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that all four athletes, including He, have been “punished” for their actions. The Chinese Athletics Association plans to improve the organization of road running events in the country following the incident.
He Jie, who won the race in one hour, three minutes, and 44 seconds, is a marathon gold medalist at the 2023 Asian Games and holds the national record for the full marathon.
The controversy surrounding the Beijing half marathon finish has raised concerns about the organization and management of road running events in China.
Despite the issues highlighted, the overall operation of road running events in the country has been described as smooth.
