Chinese Athletics Association Vows to Strengthen Supervision of Road-Running Events

The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) is taking action to address the issue of cheating in road-running events after a controversial incident at the Beijing half-marathon on Sunday. In a video that went viral online, three runners were seen slowing down to allow China’s He Jie to overtake them and win the race by a second.

He Jie crossed the finish line in 1:03:44, just ahead of Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, who all tied for second place. The three runners who appeared to assist He were not wearing bibs indicating they were pacemakers, raising questions about their intentions.

The Beijing Sports Bureau has launched an investigation into the incident, with the CAA pledging to strengthen supervision of road-running events. The CAA acknowledged that while road races have become increasingly popular in China, there have been issues with cheating and poor event management.

In a statement following a meeting of officials, the CAA expressed concern over the problems in the organisation and management of road races. The statement also highlighted previous instances of cheating in Chinese races, including 258 participants caught cheating in a 2018 half-marathon in Shenzhen.

The CAA’s commitment to addressing these issues is a positive step towards ensuring fair competition in road-running events in China. As the popularity of distance running continues to grow in the country, it is essential that measures are in place to maintain the integrity of the sport.