Drug addiction and substance abuse can affect anyone. Yet, it can also affect those who you root for when you watch sports on TV or at a game. This guide will go over the list of ten famous athletes that have been found guilty of drug related crimes.
Some of them have gone on to live productive, drug-free lives after their conviction. Others may have not lived to tell about what went on in their lives when drugs were involved. If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction, find out more information on Gallus Detox can help here: https://www.gallusdetox.com/locations/colorado/denver-detox-center/.
Now, let’s take a look at the following athletes that have been found guilty of crimes related to their substance abuse.
“Fast Eddie” Johnson
“Fast Eddie” played in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks. However, his career came to an end in 1987 due to his drug addiction. Since his departure, he was arrested for countless crimes related to his addiction including burglary and sexual assault among other crimes.
He was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for sexual battery. Currently, he is incarcerated at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution. Since he is not eligible for parole, he will likely live out the rest of his life behind bars.
Alex Cole
A professional baseball player for several teams including the Minnesota Twins, Cole became a drug dealer after his career ended. In 2001, federal agents had arrested Cole in Florida as part of a sting operation. As a result, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his crimes.
Since his time behind bars, there seems to be nothing we know about what he’s doing nowadays.
Christian Hosoi
The pro skater became one of the youngest to turn pro at 14. By the time he was 17, he was already an established entrepreneur starting a skateboard company. However, he developed an affinity for crystal meth.
This led to his arrest in conviction for possession in 2000. Originally sentenced to 10 years for possessing close to two pounds of meth, he served four of those years.
Bob Probert
He was an enforcer for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. During his time as one of hockey’s bad boys, he dealt with drug addiction of his own. However, he almost got busted for smuggling cocaine through the US-Canadian border in 1989.
Probert continued to play on after this. He died in 2010 of a heart attack while boating with his family in Canada. After his death, his brain was donated as part of a study for sports-related head injuries.
Denny McLain
Denny McLain dealt with drug issues of his own. But he was also addicted to gambling as well. He was also known for associating himself with the mob including notorious bosses such as John Gotti Jr. He would be sentenced to 23 years in prison on various drug charges as well as extortion and racketeering.
Darryl Strawberry
Perhaps one of the most prolific athletes in baseball, it was no secret that Darryl Strawberry himself was dealing with drug addiction. Despite winning four World Series titles and being named to the All-Star team on eight occasions, his off the field problems were popping up in headlines and water cooler talk amongst sports fans.
His first drug charge was in 1999 when he was arrested for possession of cocaine. In addition, he was also charged for soliciting a prostitute. Afterwards, he was dealing with health issues of his own while making numerous trips to rehab to beat his addiction.
Years later, he managed to repair his reputation and appear to turn his life around. In 2021, he was a contestant of “The Apprentice” hosted by Donald Trump. To this day, he is still beloved by fans of the New York Mets.
Lenny Dykstra
Another New York Mets player also dealing with drugs was none other than Lenny Dykstra. He also played for the Phillies during his career that spanned the 1980s and 90s. He was already involved with a grand theft auto ring when police decided to pay him a visit at his home.
During the raid, the authorities discovered various drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, and human growth hormone. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. But this would be one of the many times he would have run-ins with the law since his retirement.
In 2013, one of his conditions for sentencing included enrolling in a substance abuse program and submitting to a regular drug test. Since 2014, he had undergone his drug tests but continued to get nabbed for possession (his most recent arrest was in 2018).
Jay Adams
Jay Adams had a pro skating career that may have rivaled Tony Hawk’s. However, he was dealing with drug addiction and had faced several legal issues including murder, hate crimes, and assault. He was also caught trying to sell meth to undercover police and had served a four year sentence.
Josh Hamilton
A pro baseball player wrote the comeback story of the ages. He was dealing with drug addiction that almost ended his career. He even opened up about it in the late 2000s.
However, he would suffer relapses over the years. He was arrested on two occasions in the last three years related to domestic violence. Among his conditions for sentencing included not being able to possess any substances.
Dwight Gooden
An accomplished pitcher, Gooden was a big name to watch in the 1980s. However, he was tested positive for cocaine and entered rehab in 1987. He would soon sit out the 1995 season after he relapsed and was suspended for violating the league’s drug policy.
Final Thoughts
These ten famous athletes had illustrious careers. But some of them have spent their post career getting into trouble and drugs were at the center of it all. It shows that whether you spend the day signing autographs or just a regular person, drugs don’t care who you are.
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