Four athletes were disqualified from the Beijing Half Marathon following an incident involving preferential assistance to Chinese runner He Jie. During the race, African runners Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat from Kenya, alongside Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu, did not contest He Jie’s late surge, which led him to victory. It emerged that these athletes, unbeknownst to event organizers, had been hired by a sponsor to act as pacemakers to assist He Jie in attempting a national record. Although the record was not achieved, the implicated athletes were required to return their medals and prize money. Following the investigation, the sports management company responsible lost its rights to organize the event.

In separate news, the 2024 London Marathon commenced with over 50,000 participants, including notable athletes such as endurance runner Russ Cook and Ethiopian marathoner Tigst Assefa. This year’s event was distinct as it introduced equal prize money for wheelchair and non-disabled athletes, marking a significant step towards inclusivity in sports. Tributes were also made to Kelvin Kiptum, the previous year’s male champion who died tragically. Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug won the women’s and men’s wheelchair categories, respectively.