sport news Beijing half-marathon top three are STRIPPED of their medals after bizarre ... trends now
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The top three in Sunday's Beijing half-marathon have had their medals stripped after a bizarre finish to the race.
As reported by Reuters, winner He Jie and three African runners had their results cancelled after an investigation found that the trio allowed the Chinese athlete to finish first.
He had won the race in China's capital with a time of 1:03.44, ahead of Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat who all finished joint second.
The organising committee said in a statement that the three African runners 'actively slowed down in the last two kilometres and as a result He Jie won the men's championship.'
They added that the 'trophies, medals and bonuses will be recovered.'
Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat could be seen looking toward Jie and pointing to the finish line before the Chinese athlete made his move to the front