Dibaba’s coach held in doping investigation

BARCELONA: Spanish police on Monday arrested Somali track coach Jama Aden, whose Ethiopian protege Genzebe Dibaba is the current world 1500m champion, as part of

BARCELONA: Spanish police on Monday arrested Somali track coach Jama Aden, whose Ethiopian protege Genzebe Dibaba is the current world 1500m champion, as part of an investigation into drug trafficking.

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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 told AFP. 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. Aden has a proven track record of nurturing some of the best middle-distance runners. The 25-year-old world record holder is the big favourite to strike gold in the women’s 1500m at Rio Games.