Coach of Ethiopian distance ace Genzebe Dibaba arrested in Spain in doping probe

Spanish police on Monday arrested Somali track coach Jama Aden, whose Ethiopian protege Genzebe Dibaba is the current world 1,500m champion, as part of an investigation into drug trafficking.

The dawn arrest came at a hotel in the Catalonian town of Sabadell occupied by a group of athletes coached by Aden, sources close to the investigation said.

A physiotherapist was also arrested and the two were charged with having administered athletes with banned substances, sources added.

Six doctors from world athletics’ governing body, the IAAF, and officials from the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency were also present to carry out doping controls on some athletes.

The IAAF later released a statement explaining this arrest was the culmination of a long-running investigation.

“The arrest today of distance running coach Jama Aden follows a lengthy investigation by the IAAF which began in 2013, working in close cooperation with Interpol, the Spanish authorities including the Spanish National Anti-Doping Agency [AEPSAD], Spanish police and other organisations,” said the IAAF.