Nigerian sprint star Divine Oduduru has opened up about his recent struggles with mental health, four suicide attempts explaining his decision to stay silent in the wake of personal challenges that have shaken both his career and personal life.
In 2023, Oduduru was placed on a six-year ban after he was found guilty by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal set up to investigate allegations of two potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The tribunal’s ruling showed that Oduduru was found guilty of possession (Rule 2.6 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules; ADR) and/or use or attempted use of multiple Prohibited Substances (Rule 2.2 ADR).
Oduduru, in the judgement dated September 18, 2023 which was signed by Anna Bordiugova, was linked with fellow Nigerian Blessing Okagbare who was banned for 11 years for use of prohibited substance.
While Oduduru didn’t test positive for any banned substance, he was alleged to have been implicated in a WhatsApp message between Blessing Okagbare and her supplier, Eric Lira, where Okagbare mentioned “Divine” and “we” while discussing.
In a heartfelt message to his fans, Oduduru thanked them for their ongoing support and shared that his silence was due to the mental toll he has been facing.
“Thanks to everyone, to my lovely fans who have been supporting me right from the beginning of my career. I know a lot of you have been waiting to hear from me about the issue that happened.
“I have been quiet all this time due to my mental health,” Oduduru wrote, acknowledging the public’s concern and expressing his gratitude for their loyalty over the years.
“I attempted suicide four times just wanted to end everything because all this things that happened is still a shock to me.”
The 26-year-old track and field athlete, known for his outstanding performances in the 100m and 200m sprints, said the difficulty of dealing with these personal challenges, which have kept him from speaking out sooner.
Oduduru assured his fans that, despite the struggles, he is now ready to address the situation.
“After all these years of sacrifice, I will be granting interviews and I am working on coming live on Instagram to tell my side of what happened,” he said.
Oduduru’s message has sparked an outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes who have expressed their solidarity and admiration for his decision to address his mental health openly.
