Divine Oduduru one of Nigeria’s fast emerging sprinters has spoken about his ordeal after he was slammed with a six-year ban from the sport by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), a development which cut his young career short.
Oduduru who holds the Nigerian 200m record with a 19.73 seconds mark and a personal best of 9.86seconds in the 100m, before the 2020 Olympics, was roped into a dope triangle involving former sprinter Blessing Okagbare and US nutritionist Eric Lira. Okagbare was handed a career ending 11-years ban, while Oduduru who denied knowledge on any transaction with Lira in addition to the six ban was fined $3000.
His colleagues in track and field had urged him to open up and let the world know what really transpired and taking to his Instagram, Oduduru gave some insight and what he went through.
“Thanks to everyone, to my lovely fans who have been supporting me right from the beginning of my career,” Oduduru who is back in Nigeria since 2022 stated.
“I know a lot of you have been waiting to hear from me about the issue that happened. I have been quiet all this time due to my mental health,
. “I attempted suicide four times, just wanted to end everything, because all these things that happened is still a shock to me. After all the years of sacrifice.
“I lost everything I worked for, everything I dreamed of. The thought of not being able to compete again, the feeling of being labeled guilty for something I didn’t do, it crushed me,”
“I will be granting interviews, and I am working on coming live on my Instagram to tell my side of what happened.”
