February 10, (THEWILL) – The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced an immediate suspension of Nigerian sprinter, Divine Oduduru.
The body accused Oduduru of potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and is seeking a six-year ban against the athlete. The allegations stem from an AIU investigation based on information from a criminal charge against US-based naturopathic therapist, Eric Lira, who is accused of supplying performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.
In a statement, the AIU said, “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 further stated that the information in the complaint against Lira, including text conversations obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led to the allegations against Oduduru.
Since his outing at the Tokyo Olympics, Oduduru has been off the radar in the racing world. He did not compete in several high-profile events including the Mauritius 2022 African Athletics Championships, the World Championships, and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Despite initial hints of a comeback, Oduduru did not compete in the last National Sports Festival in Asaba, blaming an injury for his absence. The AIU’s allegations against Oduduru could have a significant impact on his future in the sport.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
