Organizers of the Beijing Half Marathon revoked the top four finishers of their medals after an investigation discovered three African runners deliberately slowed down near the finish line to help a Chinese competitor win.
He Jie of China won the gold medal and $5,500 first prize in last Sunday's event in 1:03:44, with the African trio in joint-second place one second behind.
The finish footage shows Kenya's Willy Mnangat turning to He and signaling him to pull ahead as the four men run neck and neck.
Kenyan former 5km world record holder Robert Keter waves at He to overcome the pack and tells Ethiopian Dejene Hailu to stay back.
Chinese internet users demanded an investigation and action from organizers after seeing the video.
The organizing committee announced Friday that the three African runners “actively slowed down in the last 2 kilometers and as a result He Jie won the men's championship.”
It said all four runners' results, trophies, medals, and prizes will be invalidated. The commission said Xtep, which sponsored He and the Beijing Half Marathon, recruited the three African runners to be pacemakers.
The committee said Xtep failed to notify Zhong'ao Lupao Beijing Sports Management about the trio's pacemaking. The committee excluded Xtep from organizing the Beijing Half Marathon and from sponsoring any future races this season.