Athletes Who Ruined Their Careers With Drugs
The list of athletes who have ruined their careers with drugs is long and depressing. But it’s important to remember that these athletes were not always addicts. For some, drugs were a way to escape the pressures of fame, while others sought them out to improve their performance. Whatever the reason, here are just a few of the many athletes whose careers were destroyed by drugs:
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Michael Phelps was born in 1985 and began swimming at age 7. He made his Olympic debut at age 15, where he won a silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly event. He continued to compete in various events throughout his youth and eventually set multiple world records in swimming events. During this time, Michael also became addicted to marijuana and cocaine. After winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael tested positive for marijuana use and received a suspension from competition for one year.
Barry Bonds (Baseball)
Barry Bonds was born on July 24th, 1964 in Riverside California; he began playing football for Junípero Serra High School before joining Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates as an outfielder/first baseman.
Athletes Who Ruined Their Careers With Drugs
1. Michael Phelps
Eight-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps has not only plunged into the water, but into drugs. In 2009, he lost his endorsement contract with Kellogg’s after a photo emerged of him taking a hit of marijuana.
2. Dock Ellis
Known for keeping the San Diego Padres hitless one 1970 afternoon, pitcher Dock Ellis later admitted to having taken LSD earlier that day. He even thought he was pitching to Jimi Hendrix, who was prepared to hit the ball with his guitar.
3. Darryl Strawberry
MLB’s four-time World Series champion Darryl Strawberry has tainted his resume with cocaine and alcohol use.
4. Derek Boogaard
NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard became addicted to prescription pain medication. A mix of oxycodone and alcohol led to his May 2011 death.
5. Diego Maradona
Midfielder soccer star Diego Maradona struggled with a twenty-year cocaine addiction, leading to three suspensions and multiple failed drug tests during his career.
6. Andre Agassi
Tennis star Andre Agassi, who failed an amphetamine drug test in 1997 and claimed his drug usage was the result of drinking a spiked soda, later revealed he had done crystal meth frequently during his career.
7. Josh Hamilton
MLB player Josh Hamilton’s career was delayed and derailed for eight years as he struggled with drugs and alcohol. He began to cope in 2008, and postseason victories are now celebrated with ginger ale rather than champagne.
8. Ricky Williams
The NFL’s Ricky Williams, infamous for his marijuana infatuation, has been busted four times in the past decade for violating substance abuse policy and has a stoner reputation.
9. Dwight Gooden
Looping curveball and powerful fastball pitcher Dwight Gooden was well known for his baseball career in the late 80s, but soon tested positive for cocaine use. He entered rehab in 1987 but later relapsed and was suspended from playing in the 1995 season.
10. Len Bias
Len Bias, a promising University of Maryland All-American basketball player who had just been drafted by the Boston Celtics, two days later died of a cocaine overdose.
11. Marcus Camby
Toronto Raptor Marcus Camby was drafted to the basketball team in 1996 and just one year later was arrested for marijuana possession.
12. Jennifer Capriati
Child tennis prodigy Jennifer Capriati made the mistake of shoplifting and smoking weed as a teenager and was arrested for marijuana possession. She has since made a comeback.
13. Allen Iverson
In 1997, Allen Iverson received a charge for marijuana possession and then turned to community service as a way out of drug abuse or addiction.
14. Thurman Thomas
Buffalo Bills player Thurman Thomas was arrested in 2004 at a hotel because guests smelled his marijuana.
15. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam was suspected from the WWE for thirty days for marijuana and Vicodin possession.
16. Rasheed Wallace
Basketball player Rasheed Wallace was arrested at a traffic stop in 2002 for marijuana possession.
17. Nate Newton
Nate Newton made six Pro Bowls in NFL before being busted for marijuana, earning him two and a half years in a federal prison.
18. Jon Daly
Pro-golfer Jon Daly was a heavy drinker off the course. Despite that he had previously won two majors, he went six years without a professional victory as a result of his alcohol abuse.
19. Pelle Lindebergh
Olympic goalie Pelle Lindebergh died by driving his car into a wall while drunk.
20. Vin Baker
Basketball player Vin Baker was found to smell of alcohol at practice, which eventually led to his suspension.
