Oduduru had been confirmed for the 2019 Athletissima, the eighth stop of the 14 stops money-spinning IAAF elite list of one day meetings but on Wednesday the reigning 2019 NCAA double sprint champions’ name was conspicuously missing in the revised list of confirmed athletes for the 200m event.
Local athletics watchers not only expressed disappointment in the development as they have been denied the chance to see the rave-making Oduduru who broke 10 seconds in the 100m (9.86) and 20 seconds in the 200m (19.73) compete among the big boys but also could not fathom the reason for his exclusion.
Completesports.com contacted organisers of the event and was told Oduduru’s confirmed absence at tonight’s meeting is due to visa issues.
‘Divine Oduduru had to unfortunately withdraw as he could not obtain a visa,” read a message sent to Completesports. com by a certain Dominique who replied on behalf of Adamo Vionnet, the technical director of the meeting.
Dominique also revealed that another Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare also listed for the 100m event was never invited nor confirmed for the event.
”Blessing Okagbare was neither officially announced nor confirmed for tonight’s meeting, ‘wrote Dominique in an email response to Completesports.com’s enquiry.
Meanwhile the Nigerian duo has been listed for the Herculis EBS in Monaco on July 12 and it is hoped Oduduru in particular has sorted out the visa issue that stopped his introduction to the big boys of the sprint at one of the biggest stages of track and field events in the world.
By Dare Esan
