The Beijing half marathon organisers are currently investigating a controversial incident that occurred during the race, where footage circulating online appeared to show three African runners intentionally allowing China's He Jie to win.

Video clips from the race depicted Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, as well as Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia, along with Chinese runner He Jie approaching the finish line. The African runners were seen pointing towards the finish line and seemingly waving He ahead, while simultaneously slowing down their pace. He Jie, the winner of the 2023 Asian Games marathon gold medal, ultimately secured victory by a narrow one-second margin.

The Beijing Sports Bureau and the event's organiser, the Beijing Sports Competition Management and International Exchange Center, have both initiated investigations into the matter. The incident has generated significant discussion on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with some users expressing criticism and embarrassment over what they perceive as a lack of sportsmanship.

This incident is not the first controversy in Chinese long-distance running events. In previous years, instances of cheating and organizational issues have been reported, including runners taking shortcuts during races and even individuals using rental bikes to gain an unfair advantage in marathons.

The outcome of the investigation into the Beijing half marathon incident will be awaited to determine any necessary actions or consequences resulting from the race controversy.