Tanzania, April 17 -- Writing about the controversy-and scandal-surrounding the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday, TIME magazine said: "It was a dramatic, film-worthy display of sportsmanship-or cheating, depending on how you see it." It was a story that managed to briefly knock the boiling politics of the Middle East-following Iran's launch of missile and drone attacks on Israel on the weekend-off the top trending slot on social media.

Kenyan runners Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter and Ethiopia's Dejene Hailu Bikila were swept up in a social media storm after footage of the end of the race showed them slowing down to let China's home hero and Asian Games marathon gold medallist He Jie win.

As the group drew towards the Finish, He began to...