The Beijing half marathon organizers said they were investigating after footage of the race showed three African runners seemingly slowing down and allowing China’s He Jie to win. He, the 2023 Asian Games marathon gold medallist, won by one second. The Beijing Sports Competition Management and International Exchange Center also confirmed that an investigation had been launched.

A representative from the Beijing Sports Bureau, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that they are investigating and will announce the results to the public once available. The incident has sparked concern and speculation, with one person commenting that this would be the most embarrassing championship in He Jie’s career. In recent years, long-distance running has become popular among China’s middle class, but there have been numerous instances of cheating and poor organization.

In 2018, 258 runners were found to have cheated in a half-marathon in Shenzhen, while in 2019, a woman was filmed riding a rental bike in the Xuzhou International Marathon in eastern China. Instances of cheating have affected the credibility of races in China, sparking concerns within the running community.