Ethiopian steeplechase runner Chala Beyo, left, has been banned for two years from all competitions for assaulting his coach ©Getty Images

Ethiopian steeplechase runner Chala Beyo has been banned for two years from all competitions for assaulting his coach after learning he had not made the country’s team for next month’s International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in London.

Beyo, who competed in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Rio 2016 Olympics, punched coach Yohannes Mohammed in the eye when the team was revealed.

Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) spokesman Sileshi Bisrat says police are looking for Beyo.

"Chala was incensed,” he was reported as saying by Reuters.

"He punched Yohannes in the eye and fled.

"He has since been on the run as police are searching for him."

Bisrat added that Beyo was carrying a rock when he assaulted Mohammed, but did not use it.

Chala Beyo competed in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Chala Beyo competed in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

The EAF have named a 40-member team for the 2017 IAAF World Championships, which are scheduled to take place from August 4 to 13.

Tirunesh Dibaba, a triple Olympic distance champion, is due to compete in the women’s 10,000m in London.

Mare Dibaba will use her wildcard entry as the defending champion in the women’s marathon, an event which Aselefech Mergia is also set to contest.

Mohammed Aman, the 800m gold medallist at the 2013 World Championships in Russia’s capital Moscow, and Rio 2016 10,000m bronze medallist Tamirat Tola have also been included.

Kenenisa Bekele, a triple Olympic champion on the track and the world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, ruled himself out from selection. 

He told selectors he was not fit to compete in London.