In a recent scandal during the men’s half marathon in Beijing, Chinese athlete He Jie and 4 others had their race results canceled, sparking widespread discussion. Taiwan’s Cai Xinguo, chairman of the financial media, shared his thoughts on the incident on Facebook, emphasizing the importance of integrity in sports and the need for a “power of honesty” to enhance competitiveness.
According to Cai Xinguo, sponsored by companies like Mengniu and Xtep, the marathon event held in Beijing witnessed an incident of cheating with Chinese athlete He Jie crossing the finish line in the half marathon category under the escort of 3 African athletes. However, it was evident from the footage that these 3 African athletes were engaging in blatant cheating.
Cai Xinguo noted that runners in marathons are aware that athletes from countries like Kenya compete internationally for prize money. Thus, in the case of the Xtep marathon, suspicions arise whether the African athletes were merely “yielding” for the sake of the prize money, which is a reasonable doubt.
During the men’s half marathon race on April 14 in Beijing, Chinese athlete He Jie clinched the championship with a time of 1 hour 03 minutes 44 seconds. Kenyan athletes Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, along with Ethiopian athlete Dejene Hailu, finished as joint runners-up with a time of 1 hour 03 minutes 45 seconds. Chinese athlete Li Chunhui secured third place with a time of 1 hour 06 minutes 58 seconds.
On April 19, amidst widespread skepticism, the organizing committee of the Beijing half marathon announced the investigation findings and decisions related to the men’s race. Punishments were meted out to the parties involved, leading to the cancellation of the results of He Jie, Robert Keter, Willy Mnangat, and Dejene Hailu, along with the retrieval of trophies, medals, and prize money.
The incident also evoked memories of last year’s scandal where four Chinese athletes won the women’s 400-meter relay race, setting a world record. However, it was later revealed that two of the athletes were males impersonating female athletes. This revelation shocked the world and resulted in the disqualification and lifelong bans of the two imposters.
Due to their association with the Beijing half marathon scandal, Xtep lost its partnership status as a sports event sponsor, and Zhongao Road Running lost its operational rights for the Beijing half marathon. On the 19th, both Xtep and Zhongao Road Running issued apology statements.
This event also had repercussions on Xtep’s stock price, which plummeted by 5.3% the following day. On the same day, Anta, Li Ning, and 361 Degrees also experienced stock price declines. Despite investing time, effort, and money into organizing the event, Xtep suffered losses due to the scandal.
Organizing marathons is considered a positive aspect of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), but cheating during the competition undermines the spirit of athletes and has negative implications for corporate governance.
Cai Xinguo highlighted the importance of trust and integrity, citing Taiwan’s TSMC as an example of a company that has strengthened its competitiveness over the years through the pursuit of integrity. He emphasized that integrity carries significant value for individuals, companies, and nations, showcasing the power of honesty.
In conclusion, Cai Xinguo remarked that Trust, Integrity, Cheating, and Corruption are contrasting elements where resorting to any means to achieve goals, whether for personal gain, business performance, or national interests, ultimately leads to failure despite short-term advantages.