BANGKOK (AP) — Organizers have revoked He Jie’s first place in the Beijing Half Marathon last weekend after an investigation confirmed that three other runners had slowed down to let him win the race.
All four runners were disqualified and had to return their medals and award money.
Chinese online users had shared the video from the final moment s of Sunday’s race out of suspicion that it had been rigged. The footage showed three African runners letting He, China’s top long-distance runner, move ahead of them shortly before they were about to reach the finish line.
The three runners deliberately reduced their pace, according to a statement from a committee set up to investigate the race.
The special committee said that four runners had originally been hired as pacemakers by a sponsor but that the main organizers of the race had not known this. One of the pacemakers didn’t finish the race.
Italy earns 5th Champions League spot for next season because of overall success in Europe
Seminar for Women Leaders of Political Parties from Southern African Countries Convenes in Beijing
China Backs UN's Efforts to Empower Women, Youth, Says Official
China, Thailand to cooperate in lunar exploration missions
Swiatek beats Raducanu in Stuttgart quarters. Sabalenka loses to Vondrousova
Shen Yueyue Calls for Thorough Implementation of the Law on Family Education Promotion
China Issues Action Plan to Advance Disability Prevention
Chinese scientists use machine learning for precise Antarctic sea ice prediction
An appeals court dismisses charges against a Michigan election worker who downloaded a voter list
ACWF Raises Funds and Supplies for Flood Control, Disaster Relief in Henan
France asks retailers to alert customers to cases of 'shrinkflation'
Huang Delivers Keynote Speech at Virtual Dialogue on Promoting China