China has suspended a marathon race official for one year after he mistakenly blocked the eventual winner from crossing the finish line at the Chongqing Wanzhou Marathon.
The incident, widely shared online, occurred during Sunday’s race and sparked public outrage, prompting the Chongqing Athletics Association to discipline the official and call for “deep self‑reflection.”
Video footage shows leading runner Sheng Xueli sprinting alone toward the finish line at around 2 hours 23 minutes 52 seconds when a referee wearing a raincoat suddenly stepped forward, stretched out his arms, and stopped him. The official then directed Sheng into a separate lane designated for half‑marathon runners. Sheng was able to cross the finish line seconds later, dropping to his knees in celebration after securing victory.
The Chongqing Athletics Association said on Monday that the referee, identified only by the surname Zhu, had been suspended from officiating marathon events for a year for incorrectly identifying an athlete’s category and obstructing a runner who was performing normally. The association added that Zhu’s actions disrupted the race and caused a negative social impact, urging him to conduct serious self‑reflection and recognize the responsibilities of officiating.
Sheng, in a video posted on what appears to be his Douyin account, said he was “completely bewildered” by the incident but did not blame anyone. He acknowledged that on-site staff might have lacked professional training or a clear understanding of the rules and expressed hope that all athletes would be treated with respect.
The suspension generated widespread attention on Chinese social media, with a dedicated hashtag on Weibo amassing over 8.6 million views, highlighting public interest in fairness and professionalism in sporting events.
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