VIDEO. Suspicious victory of a Chinese in the Beijing half-marathon: the first four in the race disqualified after the scandal

Le scandale en Chine a provoqué l’exclusion des quatre premiers. Capture d'écran X

The organizers of the Beijing half-marathon announced on Friday April 19 the disqualification of the first four from the event, after the controversial victory on Sunday of a Chinese runner who benefited from undue assistance from three other competitors.

Videos of the finish of the race had raised many questions and sparked an outcry on social networks in China, pushing the organizers to open an investigation at the start of the week.

Images that have gone viral show Chinese athlete He Jie, marathon gold medalist at the 2023 Asian Games, left behind as he approaches the finish line by Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, as well as by the Ethiopian Dejene Hailu.

These three runners rigged it so China’s He Jie would win the race 😬 pic.twitter.com/sF5qI2ULtM

— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) April 16, 2024

But they seem to slow down and signal the Chinese runner to pass. "The organizing committee of the Beijing half-marathon has published the results of the investigation", state television CCTV reported, specifying that the four athletes in question were disqualified.

Not a first in China

According to the organizers, the three African runners were “hares”, that is to say simply responsible for leading the pace, but had not been declared as such by one of the race’s partner companies. "Trophies, medals and bonuses" of the first four are thus “withdrawn”, added CCTV, with support from an official document from the organizers.

Also read: VIDEO. He overtakes two Kenyans and an Ethiopian in the final straight: suspicious victory for a Chinese at the Beijing half-marathon

Several sporting events in China have already been hit by controversies in recent years over suspicions of cheating. In 2019, a participant in the Xuzhou International Marathon (east) was seen and filmed on a bicycle. That same year, a Chinese orienteering team was disqualified for "cheating" during the Military Games.

Chinese athletes won first places in a test consisting of using maps and compasses to orient themselves as quickly as possible. But it turned out that they had been "helped by spectators, markings and small paths prepared for them and of which only they were aware", estimated the International Federation of orienteering.