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Divine Oduduru gets 6-year ban for doping violation

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1 year ago

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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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AFCON qualifiers: CAF awards 3-0 win to Nigeria, fines Libya $50k over airport incident

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October 26, 2024 4:49 pm

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a win and the full three points in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with Libya that was postponed this month.

The African football governing body announced the verdict in a statement on Saturday.

The Super Eagles and Libya were originally scheduled to clash at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi on October 15, in matchday four of the AFCON qualification series.

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FIFA rankings: Eagles climb three spots globally, now fourth in Africa

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3 days ago

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October 24, 2024 1:05 pm

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria moved three spots upward in the latest FIFA men’s rankings released on Thursday.

The October rankings released by the world football governing body saw Nigeria gain 5.27 points and move from 39th to 36th worldwide.

The Super Eagles also moved two spots in the continental ranking, with the managerless national team now fourth-best in Africa.

The rankings followed a 1-0 win over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game this month.

Argentina, however, remains the first-ranked nation globally, while the top six have not changed. Morocco is the highest-ranked nation in Africa. Comoros were the biggest climbers, gaining 10 places, while Tunisia suffered the worst drop globally, losing 11 places.

Also, Botswana gained the most points, while Cape Verde dropped the most points by a country in the latest rankings.

In the women’s ranking, the Super Falcons remain in the 36th spot globally, and first in Africa.

The next FIFA rankings will be released on November 28, 2024.

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Onakoya unveils chess innovation hub in Lagos to nurture young talent

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4 days ago

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October 24, 2024 8:10 am

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Tunde Onakoya has launched the first chess innovation hub in Lagos to nurture young talent in Nigeria.

Onakoya, who is the founder of Chess In Slums, recently took to Instagram to share footage from the unveiling ceremony.

The chess master expressed excitement about the hub’s potential, adding that it will empower underprivileged children through innovative education.

Onakoya said the hub would provide young talent free access to tech-related programmes (coding, robotics, AI/machine learning), design, advanced chess training, and a book reading club.

“I have always believed that every child, no matter their background, deserves the opportunity to develop their full potential. This hub will be a sanctuary where dreams are nurtured and where we’ll inspire children to have faith in their own ideas,” he wrote.

“As promised, the hub will be free and accessible to children in Makoko, as well as homeless children in Yaba, Ebutte Metta, and Surulere axis. We will focus on creating programs that teach Coding, Robotics, AI/Machine Learning, design, advanced chess training and a book reading club.

“This is where we reimagine education for children who may have fallen through the cracks of society and help them unleash the power of their minds in creative ways.”

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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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