Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has broken his silence on his six-year ban from athletics, disclosing that he attempted suicide four times due to the mental toll of the situation.
Oduduru, banned in October 2023 by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping violations, maintains he has his side of the story to share.
Despite not testing positive, his case was linked to teammate Blessing Okagbare, who received an 11-year ban in 2022.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 28-year-old expressed gratitude to fans while revealing his struggles.
“I’ve been quiet all this time due to my mental health,” Oduduru wrote. “I attempted suicide four times because everything that happened was a shock to me.”
The sprinter promised to address the allegations in detail through interviews and live sessions.
Oduduru, a former NCAA champion and two-time Nigerian national champion, holds impressive personal bests of 9.86 seconds in the 100m and 19.73 seconds in the 200m.
