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Organisers of the Beijing half marathon are investigating allegations that three African athletes deliberately allowed China’s star runner He Jie to win Sunday’s race.<\/b><\/p>\n
Footage appeared, external<\/span><\/a> to show Kenya’s Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu pointing to the line and slowing down before waving past He, 25.<\/p>\n The result was criticised by some Chinese social media users.<\/p>\n Mnangat has told BBC Sport Africa that the trio ran as pacemakers.<\/p>\n The Kenyan said four runners had been contracted to help He break the Chinese half-marathon record of one hour two minutes 33 seconds, and that one of them did not finish the race.<\/p>\n He missed out on the record with a time of 1:03:44, one second ahead of the trio, who tied for second place.<\/p>\n “I was not there to compete,” said Mnangat. “It was not a competitive race for me.”<\/p>\n A spokesperson at the Beijing Sports Bureau told AFP they were investigating the incident, adding: “We will announce the results to the public once they are available.”<\/p>\n