The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru for possession and use of a banned drug.
Oduduru was identified as the second athlete linked to discredited therapist Brian Lira, following fellow countryman Blessing Okagbare.
His suspension is a result of Lira’s criminal case from January 2022 after Okagbare was provisionally suspended during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, preventing her from competing in the women’s 100-meter semi-finals after winning her heat.
Lira was prosecuted in the United States under the Rodchenkov Act, which authorizes criminal charges to be brought against people determined to have violated anti-doping rules, and faces up to ten years in jail.
He supplied performance-enhancing medications to the Olympians via encrypted messaging.
Oduduru was disqualified from the men’s 100m heats at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for a false start, and then nearly missed the men’s 200m final.
