Spanish police arrests Dibaba's coach for doping probe

Somali track coach Jama Aden was arrested by Spanish police on Monday for doping probe.

Aden is the coach of Ethiopian women's 1500m world champion Genzebe Dibaba.

He was arrested in a hotel in the Catalonian town of Sabadell.

A physiotherapist was also arrested and the two were charged with having administered athletes with banned substances, according to AFP.

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 said the 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.

"The IAAF will use all available resources and powers to protect clean athletes and the integrity of our sport. This includes targeting and investigating individuals and coaches who are intent on exploiting athletes and promoting the use of prohibited substances."

Aside from Dibaba, Aden has coached two-time world indoor 800m champion Abubaker Kaki Khamis and 2008 Beijing Olympics 800m silver medallist Ismael Ahmed Ismael, both from Sudan, 2012 London Olympics 1500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria, 2012 world junior 1500m champion Hamza Driouch, a Moroccan-born Qatari, and 2013 world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti. Endit