Investigation started after Chinese runner’s victory in Beijing Half Marathon

Hong Kong: Chinese runner He Jie’s victory in the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday has sparked controversy, with her victory being questioned because the African runner was deliberately running slow to let her cross the finish line first, CNN reported. informed of. A video clip capturing the final moments of the race shows a remarkable scene: Kenya’s Willie Mnangat turns to He Jie and gestures for him to go ahead as the four runners, including Kenya and Ethiopia’s East 5 Also included is km world record holder Robert Cater. S dzen hallu, run together just a few meters from the finish line. In a display that raised eyebrows, Keter appears to signal He Jie to move ahead of the herd, while he signals his compatriot and Hailu to retreat. According to CNN, the Chinese runners actually crossed the finish line in 1:03:44 to claim the first prize of US$5,500, while a trio of African runners finished only a second behind and tied for second place. The video clip captures the African runners applauding and patting him on the back for his victory, although he himself looks less pleased, having achieved his first competitive half-marathon victory.

At the age of 25, He Jie, who had twice previously broken China’s marathon record, confessed to reporters after the race that he “[अपनी] The best competitors were not in condition,” but he remained silent on the controversial finish. The outcome of the race quickly sparked discussion on Chinese social media platforms, with calls for an investigation into the incident and action from organizers. Weibo One user stressed the importance of fairness in sports, saying that “the ways of the world” should not compromise the integrity of the competition. Another popular comment said: “I support an investigation, and fair Sport is important,” the user said, adding that they hoped officials could “give clear clarification to maintain the fairness of the competition and respect the efforts of the athletes.”

Responding to the public outcry, race organizers, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and the Chinese Athletics Association, issued a statement on Monday reaffirming their commitment to addressing the matter. He announced an ongoing investigation into Matt, CNN reports. Chinese sports company Xstep, which sponsors both He Jie and the Beijing Half Marathon, acknowledged the situation in a statement to state outlet The Paper, saying that multiple parties were involved in the investigation and verification of the incident. “Further details will be communicated as soon as possible,” Xstep said in a statement to the outlet. Meanwhile, World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport, acknowledged awareness of the footage circulating online and revealed that local authorities were conducting their own investigation.

It added, “The integrity of our sport is the highest priority at World Athletics.” Sports analyst Mark Dreyer, author of “Sporting Superpower: An Insider’s View on China’s Quest to Be the Best”, highlighted the controversy, calling the finale a “bad look”. He said, “It’s one thing for the four runners at the finish to potentially hold each other’s hands or cross the line together in a display of sportsmanship. We didn’t see that.” He added, “It’s not a sprint finish for anyone else but him.” Yes. It doesn’t take a genius or a running expert to figure it out.” Despite the unfolding controversy, He Jie, from the Ningxia region of northwest China, remains a symbol of hope in long-distance running. Men by World Athletics Ranked 77th in the world in the marathon, he hopes to play a key role in representing Asian runners at the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. “He’s elite,” Dreyer told CNN. Donation is not required.” (ANI)