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Divine Oduduru gets 6-year ban for doping violation

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The disciplinary tribunal of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Divine Oduduru, the Nigerian sprinter, a 6-year ban for breaching two anti-doping rules.

According to the statement released by AIU on Thursday, the Nigerian got a four-year ban for the possession of prohibited substances and the attempted use of a prohibited substance and an additional two years for “aggravating circumstances”.

He was also ordered to pay $3000 to the World Athletics for its expenses regarding the case.

Oduduru had been provisionally suspended in February after he was identified as one of the clients of Eric Lira, a self-acclaimed kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor, who pleaded guilty in a case titled “US’ first Olympic anti-doping charges”.

Oduduru was sanctioned, alongside Blessing Okagbare, as a collaborator with Lira.

Lira was accused of providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics.

In 2022, Okagbare was banned for 11 years following an investigation by AIU after she failed an out-of-competition doping test.

In the latest statement, AIU said WhatsApp messages between Okagbare and Lira revealed that the former was “soliciting prohibited substances on Oduduru’s behalf”.

“And photographic evidence of multiple Prohibited Substances discovered in Oduduru’s Florida apartment,” the statement reads.

“The Prohibited Substances found in Oduduru’s apartment were two boxes of Somatropin, ‘Xerendip’ and ‘Humatrope’, which were identified as human growth hormone; a plastic ziplock bag labelled ‘IGF LR3’ – an abbreviation for synthetic or ‘recombinant’ Insulin Growth Factor – containing three vials, and two boxes of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). According to testimony, one of the boxes of EPO was open and had only one of six vials remaining.

“Also discovered in the apartment was an opened US Postal Service envelope containing ‘Xerendip’ – addressed to Okagbare and with Lira labelled as the sender.

“The Panel finds it to be an extraordinary coincidence that all the Prohibited Substances found in the Athlete’s apartment were precisely those requested from Mr. Lira by Ms. Okagbare for her and ‘Divine’, specifying that she had to give (to Divine) his stuff too and for which she tested positive (EPO and hGH).”

The statement said that Oduduru maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.

The ban takes retroactive effect from February 9, 2023, until February 8 2029.

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Gift Orban joins Hoffenheim after one year at Olympique Lyon

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Gift Orban, former Super Eagles invitee, has completed a move to Germany’s Hoffenheim from Olympique Lyon.

The German Bundesliga side announced the 22-year-old centre forward’s signature in a post on their X handle.

Orban signed a four-year deal and will wear jersey number 14 at his new club.

The move ends Orban’s torrid one-year spell at Lyon, in which he featured in 21 matches, scoring only five times.

He has only played five times this season, playing three Ligue 1 and two Europa League games, respectively.

The pacey striker has not been included in nine of the last 10 league matches for Lyon. Orban’s previous league appearance was on September 22, while he last played in a match for the former French League champions in the Europa League, coincidentally against his new club. The game ended 2-2, with Orban lasting 62 minutes before substitution.

Orban, who scored 32 goals in 52 matches for Genk before his move to Lyon, posted on his X that he handled his excitement about swapping France for Germany. He described his new home as “wonderful.”

“New year, new adventures! Excited to be part of This Wonderful Club Hoffenheim,” said Orban.

Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim’s sporting director, was also excited about the player’s joining the club and believed his attacking skills would improve the struggling side.

“In Gift Orban, we have found exactly the fast striker with good depth that we were looking for. He has proven time and time again his goalscoring talent and his enjoyment of playing.

“We are therefore confident that he will bring our team greater offensive variability thanks to his abilities.”

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AC Milan appoints Sergio Conceicao as new coach

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Sergio Conceicao was named the new coach of AC Milan replacing his fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca who was sacked earlier on Monday, the Serie A club announced.

“AC Milan announces that Sergio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceicao has been appointed as the Head Coach of the men’s first team until June 30, 2026,” Milan said in a statement.

Conceicao takes over a Milan side that lies eighth in Serie A, eight points off the Champions League places.

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Mike Tyson confirms return to ring in 2025

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Boxing legend Mike Tyson has confirmed his return to the ring in 2025, but this time it’s not in the way fans might expect, Marca reports Monday.

Tyson, whose last fight ended in a loss to Jake Paul on November 15, 2023, has been teasing a major comeback, much to the curiosity of the boxing world.

The 58-year-old’s last appearance in the ring was against Paul at the AT&T Stadium, a fight that raised eyebrows due to the 29-year age gap between the two competitors.

Despite the scrutiny, Tyson expressed gratitude for the opportunity and even admitted he couldn’t remember the fight.

“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson said in an interview with Netflix after the final bell. “I’m grateful for last night. To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”

The fight, which ended in an unconvincing defeat for Tyson, may have marked the end of his boxing career, but fans are still holding on to the hope of one more iconic appearance from the former undisputed heavyweight champion.

Should Tyson officially retire, he will bow out of a career that spanned over four decades, leaving behind a remarkable 50-7-0 record, 44 knockouts, and a legacy as the youngest boxing champion in history.

However, Tyson’s potential return to the ring is now being overshadowed by an unlikely new challenger: Joe Gatto of Impractical Jokers fame. Gatto, known for his comedic antics, has thrown his hat into the ring, joking that he will be facing off against Tyson in 2025.

The announcement was made with a mock poster of the two fighters promoting the “bout” as part of a marketing stunt.

“Exciting news,” Gatto wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “In 2025, I will enter the ring with the legendary @MikeTyson. Training starts 1/1/25 and you can watch it all on @hulu.”

“My new show #FightingWeight will document my transformation from fat to fit as I push myself to the limit. I appreciate the support of my team to make this happen and of course to @bellagio for hosting the event this summer. New year. New me.”

While this may seem like an outlandish idea, Gatto’s playful announcement is actually a clever marketing move for his upcoming health and fitness television show, FightingWeight.

The show will document Gatto’s transformation as he strives to lose weight and improve his physical fitness, pushing his body to the limit in a way fans have never seen before.

“My new show #FightingWeight will document my transformation from fat to fit as I push myself to the limit,” Gatto continued in his post. “I appreciate the support of all who made this happen & to @Bellagio for hosting the event this summer. New year. New me.”

As the boxing world eagerly awaits Tyson’s next move, it’s clear that while the legend himself may be stepping back from professional fighting, the excitement surrounding his potential return will continue to captivate fans for years to come.

Whether it’s a final farewell or the beginning of an unexpected chapter, the sport media noted that Tyson’s legacy remains undeniably intact—one that forever changed the world of boxing.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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