Divine Oduduru, a Nigerian sprinter, has been suspended indefinitely by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
According to the AIU, Oduduru, who ranks Nigeria’s second-fastest runner ever, trailing only the legendary Olusoji Fasuba, is also facing a six-year ban.
“The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has notified Divine Oduduru of two potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and is seeking a six-year ban against the Nigerian.
“The sprinter has been notified of potential ADRVs for possession (Rule 2.6 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules; ADR) and/or use or attempted use of multiple Prohibited Substances (Rule 2.2 ADR). He has been provisionally suspended immediately.” the AIU statement read in part.
It continued, “These alleged violations stem from an AIU investigation based on information in a criminal charge brought against US-based “naturopathic” therapist Eric Lira, on 12 January 2022, by the United States Department of Justice under the Rodchenkov Act”
“Lira is alleged to have supplied performance-enhancing drugs to athletes before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (delayed until summer 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic).”
“The complaint against Lira provides specific information regarding persons identified as ‘Athlete 1’ and ‘Athlete 2’. In February 2022, a sole arbitrator of the AIU Disciplinary Tribunal concluded that they were “comfortably satisfied” that ‘Athlete 1’ was Oduduru’s team-mate, Blessing Okagbare, and banned her from the sport for ten years, which was increased to an 11-year ban in June 2022 following further charges brought by the AIU”
According to the AIU, based on the information in the complaint, including text conversations obtained from Okagbare’s mobile phone by the FBI and additional evidence obtained from the AIU investigation, Oduduru is the ‘Athlete 2’ identified in the complaint.
Oduduru has remained off the radar on race tracks since his humiliating performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
He did not compete for Nigeria at the Mauritius 2022 African Athletics Championships, as well as the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
He initially stated that he would participate in the recent National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, but he did not. He blamed his absence on injury.