European athletics chief Svein Arne Hansen welcomed the arrest of athletics coach Jama Aden in a Spanish probe in which reportedly a third person was detained yesterday.
The EAA chief Hansen said Monday’s raid was “the direct result of a tip off from a vigilant member of the sport” to the ruling body IAAF.
Somalia’s Aden, who among others trains 1,500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, was arrested Monday along with a Moroccan assistant at a hotel in Sabadell on suspicion of supplying athletes with banned performance-enhancing substances.
Police searched the hotel rooms of the two arrested men and those of around 30 athletes from various countries who were coached by Aden.
The authorities reportedly found the blood booster EPO.
Six doctors also performed drug tests on the athletes in question by request of the IAAF.
Hansen welcomed the raid and said Aden had been in possession of doping substances.
“This is both a great result for the new era of the IAAF and a strong message to anyone with suspicions to immediately share them with confidence to the IAAF,” he said.
The IAAF, in a statement late Monday, said the police action “follows a lengthy investigation by the IAAF which began in 2013, working in close co-operation with Interpol, the Spanish authorities including the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency (AEPSAD), Spanish police and other organisations.
“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,” the IAAF said, adding it would give no further details.
The names of the athletes have not been made public.
Ethiopia’s Dibaba is Aden’s most famous athletes.
The 25-year-old last year bettered the long-standing 1,500m world record, won gold over the distance at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, and is the top favourite for Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in August.
She last raced in March.
AEPSAD said in a statement yesterday it will go to court if doping rules offences have occurred, and take disciplinary action against the suspects as well.