Controversy Erupts: National Marathon Champion Becomes Zhang Shuihua’s “No. 2” — Hit With Ban and Claims of Extortion by Protégé

Beijing time on January 24, Zhang Shuihua went live, and marathon star Yin Shunjin quickly rose to the stream’s No. 2 spot on the gifting leaderboard—sparking heated discussion online.

Zhang’s livestream the night before was a relaxed chat with viewers, focused mainly on running and training topics. The session unexpectedly drew in a wave of marathon insiders and professionals, boosting the room’s visibility and buzz.

Adding to the spectacle, Yang Dinghong—widely known for once delivering China’s best marathon performance—claimed the No. 1 position on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Yin Shunjin, the men’s marathon champion at the 2013 National Games, landed at No. 2, underscoring just how much attention Zhang’s broadcast was commanding.

Yet Yin Shunjin is currently at the center of a growing controversy. His protégé, Xue Jun, reportedly missed last year’s National Games after testing positive in a drug screening. Xue has since pointed the finger at Yin, suggesting he was misled by his coach and alleging he had been kept in the dark—saying he was “sold out and still helping count the money.”

In response, Yin denied ever instructing any athlete to use performance-enhancing drugs and further implied that Xue had attempted to extort him. According to insiders, Xue is facing a three-year ban, and Yin—bearing joint accountability as the coach—has reportedly been handed a suspension of one year and six months.