By Uzor Odigbo
Nigeria’s Sprinter, Divine Oduduru has until midnight of Sunday November 12, 2023 to appeal the six year ban slammed on him by a three-member disciplinary
tribunal for allegedly committing two Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) of Possession of Prohibited Substances and Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or
Method.
He was also ordered to pay World Athletics US$3000 towards its expenses regarding the case.
The ban takes retroactive effect from 9 February 2023 the date on which Oduduru’s provisional suspension began and runs until 8 February 2029, while all his results from July 12 2021 until the date of his provisional suspension have been disqualified.
Oduduru vehemently denied the charge in the hearing of his case before the three-member Disciplinary Tribunal and he may opt to take his case to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), for final adjudication.
The Nigerian 200m record holder insisted he was never caught with any drug and did not ask any athlete to buy one for him.
The Nigerian said ‘he had never asked anyone (including Eric Lira or Blessing Okagbare) to buy drugs for him, that he disputed the contents of the witness statement of Mr. Victor Burgos, that he was not a participant within the Okagbare, Lira messages exchange, that there was no evidence of use, and that he was not in exclusive control of his Apartment when the Prohibited Substances were found.’
Pursuant to Rule 13.6.1(a) ADR, the deadline for filing an appeal with CAS is 30 days from the date of receipt of the present decision by the appealing party and where the appellant is a party other than World Athletics, a copy of the appeal must be filed on the same day with World Athletics
