Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru suspended by World Athletics for doping; risks six-year ban
The World Athletics have provisionally suspended Nigerian former World Youth Championships silver medalist Divine Oduduru over the use of prohibited substances.
Athletics Integrity Unit, the independent body created by the World Athletics to manage all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping, averred that Oduduru’s suspension came after the 26-year-old was identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a client of Eric Lira.
Washington Post tagged Eric Lira as a self-proclaimed “kinesiologist and naturopathic” therapist, who provided banned substances including human growth hormone and erythropoietin, or EPO, to athletes.
Nigerian track and field queen Blessing Okagbare was found guilty last year for being a collaborator with Lira and was subsequently banned for 11 years following an investigation by AIU after the Olympic silver medalist failed a doping test at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In the statement released by AIU on Thursday, Oduduru was identified as a client of Lira and a suspect by the FBI after evidence from Okagbare’s phone incriminated the Ughelli-born 200 metres specialist in a doping investigation.
AIU further added that it is pursing a six-year ban against Oduduru.
“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,” a part of the statement reads.
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