Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat has refuted allegations suggesting that he, alongside two others, deliberately allowed Chinese athlete He Jie to win the Beijing Half Marathon.

In an interview with BBC Sport Africa, Mnangat clarified that he, along with Robert Keter and Dejene Hailu from Ethiopia, were hired as pacesetters for Jie. Their task was to assist Jie in breaking the Chinese half-marathon record, set at 1:02:33.

Mnangat disclosed that although four individuals were contracted for the pacesetting role, one failed to complete the race.

"My objective wasn't to compete. It wasn't a competitive event for me," he asserted.

Furthermore, Mnangat expressed surprise when organizers listed his name on the bib, creating confusion among spectators. He emphasized the importance of being identified as a pacesetter to avoid misconceptions.

Despite the pacesetters' efforts, Jie fell short of breaking the national record but secured victory with a time of 1:03:44, one second ahead of Mnangat and his companions.

"My responsibility was to set the pace and aid Jie's victory, but unfortunately, the target of breaking the national record wasn't achieved," Mnangat conveyed to the media.

Among the trio, Mnangat is the sole athlete to address the allegations following the announcement of an investigation by Beijing organizers into the race-fixing claims.

Previously, Mnangat admitted to intentionally letting Jie win, citing their friendship.

A viral video depicting the trio encouraging Jie to the finish line fueled speculation, as they appeared to slow down to allow Jie to cross first.

In response to the allegations, World Athletics released a statement stressing the ongoing investigation conducted by relevant authorities.

"While this investigation is ongoing, we prioritize the integrity of our sport and refrain from further comment," the statement read.

Jie, the 2023 Asian Games marathon gold medalist, faced criticism from fans who feared his reputation and career might be tarnished if the allegations were proven true.