Coach of 1,500m world record holder reportedly arrested for PED possession

Detienen a Jama Aden en Sabadell por dopaje @linformatiu_tve @telediario_tve @mossoscat pic.twitter.com/NJjXLInwzR

— Carol Espona (@CarolEspona) June 20, 2016

Jama Aden, the coach of women’s 1,500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, was arrested in Spain on Monday for possession of erythropoietin (EPO), according to El Pais. The 53-year-old also coaches world indoor champion Ayanleh Souleiman and formerly coached 1,500m Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi.

Spanish anti-doping agency confirms Jama Aden arrested as part of an operation with them, IAAF & Catalonian police

— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) June 20, 2016

The arrest took place in Catalonia where Aden is based. The arrest comes as part of a doping raid and a Moroccan physiotherapist was also taken away along with the Somali coach. EPO is a performance-enhancing drug that is prohibited in athletics.

RELATED: Canadians react to Russia being barred from the Olympics.

Olympic silver medallist and New Zealand’s Nick Willis was quick to chime in on social media posting the following two tweets in light of today’s arrests. The operation was performed by Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police force.

Since testing seems it can be beaten,the best way to catch potential dopers is to use law enforcement. https://t.co/lfvZwQFhWt

— Nick Willis (@nickwillis) June 20, 2016

If it walks, talks and looks like a duck…… #dopingruinsoursport

— Nick Willis (@nickwillis) June 20, 2016

RELATED: Olympic 1,500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi doesn’t take weightlifting lightly.

The arrest comes just days after the world governing body for athletics upheld Russia’s suspension from international competition for its part in state-sponsored doping. Canadians were quick to react to the news that the nation’s track and field team is expected to miss the Olympics.

Track coach Jama Aden being arrested after EPO found in his hotel room during police raid. Russia goes nuts in 3,2,1 pic.twitter.com/1uVh5e1Bi0

— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) June 20, 2016

It’s reported that there were other performance-enhancing drugs besides EPO found in the hotel room.