The conclusion of the Beijing Half Marathon has ignited controversy after a video surfaced showing Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat and his peers apparently allowing Chinese runner He Jie to win.
The Beijing Marathon scandal was caught on camera
As the runners approached the 21-kilometre finish line, the video clearly depicted Mnangat, along with fellow Kenyan Robert Keter and Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila, in the lead but slowing their pace.
He Jie, who is celebrated for his performance in the Asian Games, trailed just behind.
The footage showed Mnangat looking back at He, gesturing towards the finish line and encouraging him to pass. Subsequently, He surged ahead while the trio made no visible attempt to contest his sudden lead.
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The scene quickly escalated into a viral topic, with online spectators debating the actions of Mnangat and his colleagues.
Mnangat initially confirmed to the media that he let He win because of their friendship, further explaining that he had acted as He’s pacer in a previous marathon in Wuxi.
However, inconsistencies arose when Mnangat later claimed he was officially a pacemaker in Beijing, though his bib did not differentiate him from competitive runners.
Marathon organiser launches investigation
In response to the widespread criticism, the Beijing Sports Competition Management and International Exchange Centre announced an immediate investigation into the race’s conclusion.
The integrity of the sport has been called into question, prompting both national and international governing bodies to respond.
World Athletics, the global overseer of running events, issued a statement highlighting the importance of fairness and integrity in athletics.
“The integrity of our sport is the highest priority,” the statement read.
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