Pro Athletes Who Let Substance Abuse Destroy Their Careers
Written by
Cecil Lennox
Published on
February 4, 2015
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It is sort of phenom that a professional athlete can still be productive even when struggling with drugs and alcohol. It just goes to show how much better they could be with the afflictions of addiction.
Embattled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has acknowledged that he has an issue within himself but that still didn’t prevent his second consecutive suspension from the NFL.
If he’s not careful, he’ll end up like these professional athletes who abuse drugs and paid a hefty price for it.
Even with all the talent in the world, Strawberry’s name is more associated with “messing up” than it is being a star player. Now he has a daughter on a reality show out her embarrassing herself.
Many say “L.T.” is the greatest linebacker of all-time but his wild drug use did a number on his reputation, which would follow him well past his retirement.
Photo: Slam Magazine
Vin Baker
A string of All-Star experiences, Olympic teams and a Jordan Brand contract didn’t stop Baker from drinking in access and ballooning to 300lbs. He now coaches high school basketball.
The 1988 NBA Sixth Man of the Year also had a substance abuse issue, subsequently causing him to be banned from the league in 1995. He died earlier this year at the young age of 50.
Shortly after the Dallas Cowboys’ championship runs in the 90s, Irvin’s wayward druggy and sexual deviant behavior began to dominate headlines. He retired without fanfare in 1999. He now throws stones on the NFL Network.
The Oakland Raiders gave their #1 Draft Pick a contact with $32 million guaranteed and instantly began to party and do lean. He was arrested in 2007 on such a occassion.
The youngest player to ever win a Cy Young Award began to test positive for cocaine shortly after and has had plenty of run-ins with the law since retiring.
On April 29, 2007, Hancock died in a car accident with a blood-alcohol level of 0.157, and police also recovered a pipe with 10.95 grams of sticky icky in the vehicle.
The ex-Yankees pitcher was banned from MLB for indulging in alcohol and cocaine and had crystal meth in his system when he died in a car crash in 2008.
The former Heisman Trophy winner loved marijuana so much, he decided smoking was more important than passing numerous drug tests over the course of his career. He would be a Hall of Famer, otherwise.
Photo: 3TV
Richard Dumas
Charles Barkley’s favorite player from his Phoenix Suns days got himself banned from the NBA in 1995. He still hasn’t cleaned up his act, even while working as a janitor.
Daly has two PGA titles. He also has been accused of being a raging alcoholic, cocaine abuser and claims to have lost in the upward of $60 million to gambling in his life.
As a drug user and pusher througout his six-year career, Morris eventually saw his suspensions and waivers culminate into a 2001 federal sentence for drug trafficking.
Figure skating is an unlikely drug abusing sport but the two-time World medalist said he once had a $950 a day cocaine habit and overdosed to his death in 2008.
The 5’6″ star played larger than life on the ice but battled addiction to the point he was suspended by the NHL for violating the terms of the league’s substance abuse program.
