Chinese athletics admits problems, days on from marathon fiasco
BEIJING: The booming popularity of road running in China has “exposed problems”, the country’s top athletics body says, ater a half marathon went viral because of its bizarre finish.
Organisers launched an investigation ater two runners from Kenya and one from Ethiopia appeared to deliberately allow China’s He Jie to win Sunday’s Beijing half marathon.
He, the 2023 Asian Games marathon gold medallist, won by one second ater his supposed rivals appeared to slow down towards the finish and waved him out in front.
Kenya’s Willy Mnangat told the BBC that the African trio were pacemakers, although their bibs did not say that.
Long-distance and road running have surged in popularity among the middle class in China, but the Chinese Athletics Association said that had presented problems.
The association met on Tuesday and aterwards issued a statement vowing to make improvements -- without mentioning Sunday’s race.
“Since the spring of 2024 road-running events have been held across the country and people are enthusiastic about participating,” the association said.
“Overall, the events have been running smoothly.
“But they have also exposed problems in event organisation and management which have aroused widespread social concern.”
It added: “The meeting pointed out that the Chinese Athletics Association will further strengthen guidance and supervision of roadrunning events.”
On the other hand, London Marathon organisers will honour the late Kelvin Kiptum with 30 seconds of applause in tribute to the Kenyan ahead of Sunday’s elite men’s race.
Kiptum’s death at the age of just 24 in a late-night car accident in February near his home in Eldoret, the high-altitude training hub in the Rit Valley, western Kenya, stunned the world of athletics.
He won last year’s London Marathon and a few months later became the first man to run the marathon under two hours and one minute in Chicago.
Kiptum will be remembered at this weekend’s Marathon in the English capital, a race he won on three occasions and with a record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds in 2023.