AIU notifies Nigerian of possible anti-doping rule violations
Divine Oduduru faces six-year AIU ban for possible doping
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Athletics integrity Unit ( AIU) has notified Divine Oduduru of two potential anti-doping rule violations (ADRV’s) and is seeking a six year ban against the Nigerian.
In a press statement by AIU , Oduduru was informed of the potential ADRV’s for possession (rule 2.6 of the World Athletics anti-doping (ADR) and the use or attempted use of multiple prohibited substances ((Rule 2.2 ADR)
According to the statement, these alledged Violations stem from AIU investigation based on information in a criminal charge brought against US based “naturopathic” therapist Eric Lira, on 12 January, 2022 by the United States Department of Justice under the Rodchenkov act.
Lira was alledged to have supplied performance enhancing drugs to athletes before the Tokyo Olympic Games (delayed until summer 2021) because of the covid 19 pandemic)
The complaint against Lira provides specific information regarding persons identified as athlete 1 and athlete 2
“In February 2022 , a sole arbitrator concluded that they were comfortably satisfied that athlete 1 was Oduduru, teammate Blessing Okagbare, who is already serving an eleven-year AIU ban for her offences.
Based on the information in the complaint , including text conversations imaged from Okagbare’s mobile phone by the Federal Bereau of Investigation (FBI) and further Investigation, the AIU alledges that Oduduru is the second athlete in the complaint.
