Beijing Half Marathon Runners Stripped of Medals After Controversial Finish

Three runners from Kenya and Ethiopia said they were hired to serve as pacesetters for He Jie, who won the Beijing Half Marathon. Photo by Cui Nan / cnsphoto / Imaginechina via AFP

The top three in Sunday’s Beijing half marathon have been stripped of their medals, organizers said, following an investigation into the finish that saw China’s He Jie controversially win.

He crossed the line first in a bizarre finish after the Kenyans Robert Keter, Willy Mnangat, and Dejene Hailu from Ethiopia seemed to deliberately allow him to win.

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by Agence France-Presse

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