Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has disclosed that he attempted suicide four times after being handed a six-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in October 2023 for breaching anti-doping rules.
The 28-year-old was sanctioned for possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances, with an additional penalty for “aggravating circumstances.”
In an emotional Instagram post on Friday, Oduduru opened up about his struggles, attributing his silence to mental health challenges.
“I attempted suicide four times, just wanted to end everything… all these things that happened are still a shock to me,” he wrote, promising to share his side of the story in upcoming interviews.
Oduduru was implicated in a doping scandal linked to Eric Lira, a kinesiologist who provided performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, including those at the Tokyo Olympics.
Fellow Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare was also involved and received an 11 years ban in 2022
Despite evidence presented by the AIU, including prohibited substances found in his Florida apartment, Oduduru has maintained his innocence.
His ban, which is retroactive to February 2023, will last until February 2029.