Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has disclosed that he attempted suicide four times following his six-year doping ban imposed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Oduduru, 28, was sanctioned in October 2023 for breaching two anti-doping regulations. He received a four-year ban for possession and attempted use of prohibited substances and an additional two years for “aggravating circumstances” during the investigation.
Breaking his silence in an Instagram post on Friday, Oduduru revealed that the incident left him in shock, severely affecting his mental health. “I attempted suicide four times, just wanted to end everything because all these things that happened are still a shock to me after all the years of sacrifice,” he wrote.
Oduduru thanked his fans for their unwavering support and announced plans to grant interviews and go live on Instagram to share his side of the story. “Thanks to everyone, to my lovely fans who have been supporting me right from the beginning of my career. I will be granting interviews and working on coming live to tell my side of what happened,” the post read.
The sprinter’s ban is linked to Eric Lira, a self-proclaimed kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor who pleaded guilty to charges related to providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics. Oduduru was identified as one of Lira’s clients, along with Blessing Okagbare, another Nigerian sprinter.
In 2022, Okagbare was handed an 11-year ban after being found guilty of multiple doping violations. The AIU investigation revealed WhatsApp exchanges between Okagbare and Lira, where prohibited substances were solicited on behalf of Oduduru.
Photographic evidence of banned substances was also discovered in Oduduru’s Florida apartment, corroborating claims of his involvement. The substances matched those requested by Okagbare from Lira for both athletes.
Oduduru, however, has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. The ban, which took effect retroactively from February 9, 2023, will last until February 8, 2029.
The revelations have sparked discussions about the pressures athletes face and the impact of doping scandals on mental health. Oduduru’s upcoming interviews are expected to shed further light on the events leading to his ban.