Authorities in China have handed a one-year suspension to a marathon official who interfered with a runner moments before he crossed the finish line at the Chongqing Wanzhou Marathon.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, sparked outrage after a video circulated widely on social media. In the clip, leading athlete Sheng Xueli is seen approaching the finish line unchallenged, clocking a time of about 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 52 seconds. However, just as he neared the end, a race official wearing a raincoat stepped in front of him, extending his arms and redirecting him into a lane designated for half-marathon participants.
Despite the confusion, Sheng managed to cross the finish line seconds later and collapsed in relief and celebration after securing victory.
The Chongqing Athletics Association later identified the official, known by the surname Zhu, and confirmed his suspension from officiating marathon events for one year. In a statement, the body condemned the action, noting that it disrupted the race and created negative public attention. It added that the official had misjudged the runner’s category and improperly obstructed an athlete who was legitimately competing.
Reacting to the situation, Sheng expressed surprise but refrained from assigning blame. He suggested that the incident may have resulted from inadequate training or a misunderstanding of race procedures, while emphasizing the importance of treating athletes fairly.
The episode quickly gained traction online, with related discussions generating millions of views on Weibo.