  For the $a_0(1450)$, considered as the $q\bar{q} 1^3P_0$ state,
"experimental" tensor splitting, $c_{exp}=(-150\pm 40$) MeV, appears to be in
contradiction with conventional theory of fine structure. There is no such
discrepancy if the $a_0(980)$ belongs to the $1^3P_J q\bar{q}$ multiplet. The
hadronic shift of the $a_0(980)$ is shown to be strongly dependent on the value
of the strong coupling in spin-dependent interaction.
