Betrayed and broken: Inside Divine Oduduru’s untold doping scandal story

• Oduduru’s once-promising career has been overshadowed by doping allegations tied to events in 2021, including the disqualification of his results
• The sprinter claims he was betrayed by his agent, who terminated their contract and acted against his interests
• The investigation identified WhatsApp messages and photographic evidence linking him to prohibited substances, allegations Oduduru disputes

Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has revealed the profound emotional toll of his doping scandal, admitting to attempting suicide four times since his suspension. 

In an emotional Facebook interview hosted by Bold Sports, the 27-year-old opened up about his mental health battles, gratitude to his supporters, and the silence he maintained as he struggled with the weight of the allegations.

Once hailed as one of Nigeria’s brightest stars in athletics, Oduduru’s world came crashing down in February 2023 when he was provisionally suspended for alleged doping violations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) later confirmed a six-year ban, stretching from February 9, 2023, to February 8, 2029. 

In addition to the ban, Oduduru faced the disqualification of all his results from July 12, 2021, to the date of his suspension. He was also fined $3,000 to cover case-related expenses.

Oduduru shared that the news of the suspension felt deeply unfair, recounting the events that led up to it. He recalled a thorough interview session with the AIU, where he provided details about what transpired during his absence from the United States. 

According to him, his agent, Paul Doyle, who was responsible for his housing arrangements, had access to his apartment when Oduduru travelled to Europe to prepare for the Olympics,

“I dropped my keys with him (Paul). He was the one who got my apartment for me, he paid for the apartment, so they knew him at the residence where I lived. When I left, he got access to my apartment, he never called me, and he never said anything to me during the period I was at the Olympics,” he said.

Doyle, known to the apartment management, reportedly moved Oduduru’s belongings out of the space, as they had agreed that he would purchase a home post-Olympics instead of continuing to pay rent.

However, Oduduru said Doyle never communicated with him during that period, nor did he alert him about anything unusual. When the allegations surfaced, Oduduru was blindsided by claims of prohibited substances being discovered in his apartment. He vehemently denied the accusations, arguing that his drug tests consistently showed clean results.

The scandal was further complicated by its ties to Eric Lira, the first individual prosecuted under the U.S. Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act. Lira was accused of supplying performance-enhancing drugs to several athletes, including Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, who is now serving an 11-year ban. 

The AIU identified Oduduru as “Athlete-2” in the investigation, presenting WhatsApp messages, photographic evidence, and other records that allegedly connected him to the procurement of substances like human growth hormone (Somatropin) and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). These findings led to a mandatory four-year ban being extended by an additional two years due to what the AIU called “aggravating circumstances.”

Oduduru expressed disbelief and anguish, questioning why the AIU accepted his agent’s narrative over his own. He described Doyle as not just his agent but also a key figure in the events leading to his downfall. 

After Oduduru raised concerns about delayed payments from his sponsor, PUMA, Doyle reassured him on multiple occasions that the payments were being processed. However, after the scandal broke, Doyle reportedly terminated their contract via email, expressing disappointment in Oduduru. The sprinter saw this as a betrayal, believing that Doyle had acted as a whistleblower to tarnish his career.

Adding to his frustration, Oduduru noted that he lacked the financial resources to appeal the AIU’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). He explained that his funds had been frozen, and his contract with PUMA had been terminated due to the scandal. This financial strain left him feeling powerless, especially as he believed the Nigerian athletic authorities would not advocate for him.

Reflecting on the impact of his relationship with Blessing Okagbare, Oduduru revealed that their association may have further complicated his case. Okagbare, a figure he admired as a role model and one of Africa’s fastest women, was already implicated in doping violations connected to Eric Lira. Oduduru believed that Doyle exploited his connection with Okagbare to strengthen the case against him.

Oduduru’s first inkling of trouble came when an article revealed that prohibited substances had allegedly been found in his apartment. This was months after the supposed discovery, and he said he only pieced together the sequence of events after reading the article. 

He reached out to Doyle for clarification but was met with the termination of his professional contract with the agent,

“The first time I heard about it was when he (Paul) sent me an email that he had terminated my contract, this was after they posted an article online that they saw something in my house after a whistleblower went into my apartment,” he explained.

Later, when Oduduru returned to the U.S. and tried to retrieve his belongings, Doyle directed him to the AIU. A meeting was arranged in July 2022, where Oduduru provided his account but felt that his explanations were dismissed in favour of Doyle’s claims. Despite his efforts to clear his name, the AIU ultimately ruled against him.

Oduduru has vowed to entertain more interviews until the world sees he is innocent of all the allegations levelled against him.

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