Nigerian Sprinter Divine Oduduru Banned for Six Years Over Doping Violations

In a significant blow to the world of athletics, Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has been handed a six-year ban due to his involvement in two doping violations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) made this announcement, citing “overwhelming evidence” against the former world junior silver medallist. The violations in question pertain to his possession of prohibited substances and the attempted use of a prohibited substance or method.

This case is closely linked to that of his teammate Blessing Okagbare, who faced an 11-year ban for doping in 2022. The severity of these bans reflects the AIU’s commitment to addressing the grave issue of doping in athletics and the collaboration between athletes and other individuals to undermine the integrity of the sport.

Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, particularly considering the severe nature of the offenses. He remarked on the “sinister collusion” between athletes and others, emphasizing their deliberate efforts to corrupt athletics at its highest level.

The ordeal for Oduduru began with his provisional suspension on 9 February, which led to the subsequent investigation and the ultimate ban. The case of Blessing Okagbare came to light when U.S. prosecutors charged therapist Eric Lira with supplying performance-enhancing drugs to athletes during the Tokyo Olympics. Lira, after pleading guilty to these charges, is now facing a 10-year prison sentence.

Okagbare, a 34-year-old athlete, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics just before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone during an out-of-competition test in Slovakia before the postponed 2020 Games. Subsequently, her phone was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon her return to the United States, and an FBI complaint outlined “highly incriminating text and voice messages” exchanged with Lira. Her ban, lasting 11 years, was attributed to the use of multiple prohibited substances and her non-cooperation with the investigation.

The evidence against Oduduru was substantial, including Whatsapp messages between Okagbare and Lira that revealed Okagbare soliciting prohibited substances on Oduduru’s behalf. The 27-year-old sprinter, who boasts a 100m personal best time of 9.86 seconds, was disqualified in the 100m heats in Tokyo but managed to reach the 200m semi-finals. Notably, he won silver in the 200m at the 2014 World Junior Athletics Championships.

The AIU, determined to maintain the integrity of athletics, emphasized its dedication to uncovering doping schemes and their extensive networks. They expressed gratitude for the support and collaboration of organizations such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the United States Department of Justice, which provided critical evidence in this case and in the previous one involving Blessing Okagbare.

Photographic evidence discovered in Oduduru’s Florida apartment played a pivotal role in the case. Among the seized items were two boxes of Somatropin labeled as “Xerendip” and “Humatrope,” identified as human growth hormone, a plastic bag labeled “IGF LR3” (synthetic Insulin Growth Factor) containing three vials, and two boxes of erythropoietin (EPO).

This ban serves as a stern reminder of the continued efforts to maintain the integrity of sports and keep athletes accountable for their actions.