ETHIOPIAN athlete and Olympian Abadi Hadis has died aged 22.
The long-distance runner had been an opponent of Mo Farah and reportedly died from a “complicated disease”.
Hadis had been in a “poor condition” for months, according to Spanish outlet AS.
Hadis’s management firm Pineda Sport announced the news in a statement on Twitter.
It read: “Abadi Hadis has passed away.
“PinedaSport family is devastated. We want to extend our condolences to his family and friends.
“Athletics and Sport World is sad today. We will miss you Abadi. You will be always remembered!”
Hadis was among the runners who competed alongside British superstar Farah at the 2017 World Championship Athletics at the London Stadium
Farah won the 10,000m race, with Hadis finishing seventh. It was the last time they competed against each other.
The Ethiopian was ranked 12th in the world in the men’s 10,000m and 21st in the 5000m.
He finished 15th in the 10,000m at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bagged bronze at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships.
Ethiopia also bagged the team gold medal at the same event, with Hadis playing his part.
The Ethiopian recorded a 10,000m PB of 25:56.46 in Hengelo last year having registered his 5,000m PB of 12:56.27 the previous year.
Hadis is one of only five men in history to have clocked a sub-13 minute time for the 5000m, a sub-27 minute time for the 10,000m and 59 minutes for a half marathon.
Athletics Africa also paid tribute, ending an Instagram post with: “May his soul rest in peace.”
