Was 2019 Beijing Half Marathon also fixed? Video raises questions, sparks doubt over every result, China sports expert says
- The end of Sunday’s Beijing Half Marathon race showed three African runners allowing Asian Games winner He Jie to cross the line first
- A video of the 2019 half marathon shows two Kenyan runners being passed by China’s Liu Hongliang
A video of the end of the 2019 Beijing Half Marathon shows striking similarities to last weekend’s controversial race, leading a Chinese sports expert to say it called into question every previous result.
Sunday’s Mengniu Beijing Half Marathon finished with two Kenyans, Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter, and Ethiopian runner Dejene Hailu Bikila seemingly waving Asian Games marathon gold medallist He Jie through to cross the line first unchallenged.
The result has been questioned widely in China and abroad, and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and the organisers have launched an investigation.
Footage of the 2019 edition shows two Kenyan runners, Silas Kimeli Too and Daniel Kiprop, in first and second place, respectively, with China’s Liu Hongliang behind them in third.
With just a couple of kilometres of the race left, Liu overtakes the pair for the first time.
After overtaking Too, Liu turns his head to look at him and can be seen putting his right hand behind his back and making a sign with two fingers.
