Olivia Gracia
Some athletes have not had an idyllic life. Despite fame or talent, there are many athletes with drug problems who have wasted their lives because of their addictions.
In this JefeBet article we tell you about some athletes with drugproblems that you may not know about, and others whose problems have clearly been in the public domain… Interested? Read on!
Athletes with addiction problems
Marco Pantani
The Italian cyclist is one of the most infamous athletes with drug problems. He suffered a cocaine overdose in 2004 and was found dead of cerebral edema and cardiac arrest in a hotel in his hometown of Rimini. For years, he denied allegations of his addiction. He also suffered from depression.
Carlos Flores Murillo
The former Peruvian soccer player tried his luck in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Brazil, Argentina (Belgrano de Córdoba) and Colombia, apart from having played for several Chinese teams. In 2006 his cocaine addiction became public, and he admitted it. He is another athlete with drug problems who admitted his addiction.
Javier Sotomayor
Considered the best Cuban high jumper in history, he tested positive in the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg (Canada).
He and his doctor stated that the cocaine present in his urine sample was caused by an upset stomach due to coca tea. He has been out of any official competition for two years.
Gilberto Simoni
In 2002, his frequent cocaine abuse was proven, although he pleaded not guilty. The Italian cyclist, who won the 1993 Giro d’Italia, explained that he ate sweets that his aunt brought from Peru.
Martina Hingis
The 41-year-old Swiss tennis player has won the Australian Open three times (1997, 1998 and 1999), the Wimbledon Tournament (1997) and the US Open (1997) many years ago.
She retired in 2007 after a positive test in doping control. She is another athlete with drug problems who admitted to using cocaine. She returned to top competition after a two-year suspension.
Mike Tyson
In addition to admitting that he was addicted to cocaine, the former U.S. heavyweight champion boxer also admitted that he used a prosthesis filled with urine to avoid testing positive for doping.
Diego Armando Maradona
Maradona is perhaps the most famous on the list of athletes with drug problems. He was suspended for 15 months in 1991 after testing positive for doping.
His battle with cocaine addiction began around this time, with many relapses and public recognition.
After being suspended by FIFA for taking nandrolone during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he relapsed again with the white drug in the twilight of his career, while playing for Boca.
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