Organizers of the Beijing half marathon have revoked He Jie's win after investigations concluded that three African runners slowed down near the finish line, allowing the Chinese athlete to finish first,

He won the race last Sunday in China's capital at 1:03:44, finishing second to Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila, Kenyans Robert Keter, and Willy Mnangat, who tied for second.

PHOTO | COURTESY He Jie's win 

According to the organizing committee, the three African runners "actively slowed down in the last 2 kilometres, and as a result, He Jie won the men's championship."

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All trophies, medals, and incentives will be removed, and the athletes will be reported to the Chinese Athletics Association.

The statement read that all trophies, medals, and incentives will be revoked, and the athletes will be reported to the Chinese Athletics Association.

According to the commission, the Zhongao Lupao Beijing Sports Management firm, which hosts and operates the Beijing half marathon, will also be disqualified.

Mnangat told the BBC that the trio ran as pacemakers and did not compete.

However, the committee stated that pacers would not have been permitted to compete as specially invited competitors unless the organizers approved.

The Zhongao Lupao Beijing Sports Management firm stated that its partner, Xiamen Xtep Investment, is a unit of Hong Kong-listed Xtep 1368.HK failed to record the required pacer information, making the organizing committee unaware.


According to Xtep's website, “Our company has unshirkable responsibility and would like to express our sincere apologies to all runners.” He has been sponsored by Xtep since 2021.

Xtep stated its personnel made a mistake during the registration procedure and needed to recognize the pacers.

"We bear a great responsibility and fully accept the punishment decision made by the organising committee," the group stated.

He was slightly behind the three African runners as the race neared its completion, but they halted and beckoned the Chinese racer forward as they motioned towards the finish line. The four had run together for the whole event, which was slightly over 13 miles long.