SABADELL (ESP): The Catalan police launched a raid at a hotel just outside Barcelona where world 1500m record-holder Genzebe Dibaba and her Jama Aden-coached training partners are based, informs El Pais and agencies. The operation was launched in collaboration with the Spanish anti-doping agency who raised their suspicions about the group. Aden and a physio associated with the group were both arrested on charges of administering and distributing doping substances and endangering public health. Both detainees should face prosecution within the next 72 hours. EPO, anabolic steroids and used syringes were seized during the raid. Testers from the IAAF anti-doping department also appeared at the training base to test the athletes en masse. Dibaba hasn’t raced outdoors this summer while Aden’s other star pupil Ayanleh Souleiman has only raced once in his home country of Djibouti since the World Indoor Championships.
RunBlogRun opines: Congrats to this joint operation between Interpol, Spanish authorities, the IAAF and certian media organizations. Until the sport sees that even the biggest stars and coaches must adhere to doping rules, we will have problems with doping. Right now, it is a business decision, with a slight chance of discovery. This snatch of Jama Aden, reportedly caught with products used for doping and some nicely done out of competition drug testing, will be an anti-doping passion play with the message: Cheat and you will be found out.
