Nigerian sprinter, Divine Oduduru, has opened up about his six-year ban from athletics, revealing that he has his own story to tell despite facing immense personal struggles, including four suicide attempts.
Recall that Divine Oduduru was banned in October 2023 due to doping violations; the Athletics Integrity Unit cited “overwhelming evidence” against the former world junior silver medallist.
The violations involved the possession of prohibited substances and the attempted use of a prohibited substance or method. While Oduduru did not test positive, his case drew connections to teammate Blessing Okagbare, who received an 11-year ban for doping in 2022.
After over a year of silence, Oduduru expressed his gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. In an Instagram post, he acknowledged the challenges he has faced mentally and emotionally, stating, “I have been quiet all this time due to my mental health. I attempted suicide four times, wanting to end everything because the events that transpired are still shocking to me.”
He expressed his intention to address his situation more openly, saying, “After all these years of sacrifice, I will be granting interviews, and I am planning to go live on Instagram to share my side of what happened.”
Divine Oduduru boasts impressive personal bests of 9.86 seconds in the 100m and 19.73 seconds in the 200m. The 28-year-old athlete is a two-time Nigerian national champion and a four-time NCAA champion while competing for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.