2017 IAAF World Championships

Ethiopia's Chala Beyo Receives Two-Year Ban After Attacking Coach

Ethiopia's Chala Beyo Receives Two-Year Ban After Attacking Coach

Ethiopian steeplechaser Chala Beyo was handed a two-year ban from competition after attacking his coach, as reported by the Associated Press.

Jul 27, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Ethiopia's Chala Beyo Receives Two-Year Ban After Attacking Coach
Ethiopian steeplechaser Chala Beyo was handed a two-year ban from competition after attacking his coach, as reported by the Associated Press

The attack took place after Beyo learned that he didn't make the Ethiopian national team headed to the IAAF World Championships in London next week.

According to Ethiopian Athletics Federation spokesman Sileshi Bisrat, the runner punched coach Yohannes Mohammed when the team was announced. Mohammed suffered from an injured left eye and police are still searching for Beyo. Bisrat also said that Beyo was carrying a rock when he attacked his coach, but didn't use it. 

Beyo competed for Ethiopia at the 2016 Olympic Games, but didn't make the final of the steeplechase. In May, he finished third to Tafese Soboka and Getnet Wale at the Ethiopian national championships. In June, Beyo improved on his lifetime best with an 8:13 performance at the IAAF World Challenge in Hengelo, but lost once again to his countrymen, according to the results on Tilastopaja.com.