Ilias Fifa
.jpg) Fifa in 2016 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 16 May 1989 | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Country |  Spain | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||
Event | 5000 metres | ||||||||||||||
| Club | F.C. Barcelona | ||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Rafael Caro | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ilias Fifa (born 16 May 1989) is a long-distance runner. Born in Morocco, he competes internationally for Spain. He gained Spanish citizenship in July 2015[1] after entering Spain nine years earlier by hiding under a truck crossing the border.[2]
Career
[edit]He won the 2016 European Championship 5000 metres, in one of the closest long distance finishes ever. Video on YouTube
He participated in the 5000 metres at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing but with a time of 13:28.29 he did not reach the final.[3] He qualified for the 5000 m event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he finished in a non-qualifying 9th place in his heat.[4]
In 2018, Spanish athlete Ilias Fifa was sanctioned with a four-year suspension for doping violations. He was penalised by the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency (AEPSAD) following his arrest in 2017 for possession of prohibited substances as part of "Operación Chamberí." The suspension began in May 2018 and included a financial fine of €15,000. The sanction significantly impacted his professional career, including the termination of his contract with FC Barcelona. After serving his suspension, Fifa returned to competition in running and athletics events.[5] [6]
International competitions
[edit]| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Spain | |||||
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 13th (h) | 5000 m | 13:28.29 |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 5000 m | 13:40.85 |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 23rd (h) | 5000 m | 13:30.23 | |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 34th (h) | 5000 m | 13:47.90 |
| 2023 | European 10,000m Cup | Pacé, France | 3rd | 10,000 m | 28:12.62 |
| 2024 | Ibero-American Championships | Cuiabá, Brazil | 1st | 10 km | 29:41 |
| European Championships | Rome, Italy | 8th | 10,000 m | 28:10.97 | |
| 2025 | European Running Championships | Leuven, Belgium | 13th | 10 km | 28:32 |
Personal bests
[edit]Outdoor
- 3000 metres – 7:49.13 (Barcelona 2014)
- 5000 metres – 13:05.61 (Rome 2015)
References
[edit]- 1 2 "RFEA profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "European Athletics Homepage | European Athletics | European Athletics".
- ↑ "5000 Metres Men - Round 1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2015.
- ↑ "The XXXI Olympic Games | World Athletics".
- ↑ SÁNCHEZ, JAVIER. "Ilias Fifa, el campeón de Europa sancionado por tráfico de dopaje, rompe su silencio: "Montaron una película en mi contra"". El mundo. Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ↑ Arribas, Carlos. "Sanción de cuatro años por dopaje al campeón de Europa Ilias Fifa". El Pais. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
External links
[edit]
European Athletics Championships champions in men's 5000 metres | |
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   | This biographical article about a Spanish long-distance runner is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
- 1989 births
- Living people
- People from Tangier
- Sportspeople from Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
- Moroccan emigrants to Spain
- Naturalised citizens of Spain
- Naturalised competitors in the sport of athletics
- Spanish men long-distance runners
- World Athletics Championships athletes for Spain
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Olympic athletes for Spain
- European Athletics Championships medalists
- 21st-century Spanish sportsmen
- Olympic men long-distance runners
- Spanish long-distance runner stubs
