Career
Baala is considered to be the best French middle-distance runner of all time. As of July 2013, he holds French national outdoor records for four distances (800m: 14315, 1000m: 21396, 1500m: 32898 and 2000m: 45312. All of these were set from 2002 to 2005) and French national indoor records for four distances (800m, 1000m, 1500m and the mile.
All of these were set from 2003 to 2009).
At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka in 2007, he finished first in his 1500 metres semi-final heat but was disqualified for causing the fall of two other athletes. Baala finished fourth in the 1500 metres final at the 2000 Olympics.
On 22 July 2011, immediately after the 1500m race of the Monaco meeting of the IAAF Diamond League, Baala and his fellow competitor and compatriot Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad traded blows on the track. The French Athletics Federation handed Baala and Mekhissi-Benabbad a suspension of 10 months each - 5 months suspended - from all European Athletics and IAAF track meets.
Both were each fined 1500 euros and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Baala and Mekhissi-Benabbad were nevertheless cleared to take part in the upcoming 2011 World Championships.