He Jie, China’s top long-distance runner, was stripped of his first-place medal from the Mengniu Beijing Half Marathon on Friday after an investigation concluded that three different runners from Africa had purposely slowed all the way down to let him move.
Organizers introduced the choice after footage from the race went viral over the weekend. Video proof from the ultimate moments of the race confirmed He trailing behind Kenya’s Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu.
Mnangat instructed BBC Sport Africa that the group had not been not working competitively, however fairly as pacemakers for He.
He Jie (1st L) of China competes throughout the Bejing Half Marathon 2024 in Beijing, China, April 14, 2024. (Ju Huanzong/Xinhua by way of Getty Pictures)
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An investigation into the incident discovered that 4 runners had, in truth, been invited by a race sponsor to serve solely as pacemakers, however the principle organizers have been unaware of this. The fourth had dropped out earlier than finishing the race.
“We deeply and sincerely apologize to the world and to every part of society, that we did not discover and correct the mistakes in time at this race,” the assertion learn.
He Jie of Workforce China celebrates after successful the Athletics – Males’s Marathon Closing on day 12 of the nineteenth Asian Video games at Sensible New World Qiantang River Inexperienced Belt on October 5, 2023, in Hangzhou, within the Zhejiang Province of China. (CHINASPORTS/VCG by way of Getty Pictures)
All 4 runners, together with He, have been disqualified and compelled to return their medals and award cash.
Zhong’ao Lupao Sports activities Administration Co, the principle organizer, additionally misplaced its proper to host the occasion because of this.
He Jie of Workforce China celebrates after successful the Athletics – Males’s Marathon Closing on day 12 of the nineteenth Asian Video games at Sensible New World Qiantang River Inexperienced Belt on October 5, 2023, in Hangzhou, within the Zhejiang Province of China. (CHINASPORTS/VCG by way of Getty Pictures)
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He received the Asian Video games males’s marathon final yr and holds the Chinese language nationwide document within the occasion after ending the Wuxi Marathon with a time of two hours, six minutes and 47 seconds. He completed final weekend’s race with a time of 1 hour, three minutes, 44 seconds.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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