5 Players Whose Addiction Ruined Their Careers

Drug and alcohol addiction is a menace that has jeopardized the lives of many. Unfortunately, its callous clutches have not even spared the sports fraternity, sending some stupendous players on the dark road of addiction. Several players have fallen prey to alcohol and drugs, ruining their career permanently.

The list of professional players who have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction is endless. Their weakness for drugs and alcohol made them indulge in them more than they should have. Moreover, they felt the inclination to use the opioids to treat the physical pain and agony they got from their games. Some also over-indulged in performance-enhancing drugs to cope with the rising competition.

Listed below are some of the successful players whose careers were shattered due to their proclivity for drugs and alcohol:

1. Ricky Williams: Ricky Williams is one such successful player who chose marijuana over his career in the National Football League (NFL). Williams played for the Saints, Dolphins and Ravens and made 10,000 rushing yards and 66 rushing touchdowns. Moreover, he had 2,431 rushing attempts in his career span. However, Williams tested positive for marijuana many a times during his career. He left NFL in 2004 only to return in 2005. He was suspended for the 2006 season and he finally retired in 2011. When asked if marijuana affected his career graph, he compared the drug to “Popeye’s spinach.”

2. Dennis Rodman: Dennis Rodman, a veteran basketball player, was commonly known as “the Worm” because of his rebounding and defensive power in the court. A five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion, his struggles with addiction, particularly with alcohol, are not unknown. The American Hall of Famer has been a frequent visitor to rehabs due to his habitual drinking. Despite his playing abilities, Rodman has been controversy’s favorite child due to his love for alcohol that badly affected his career.

3. Michael Phelps: One of the most successful athletes in the Olympic history, Michael Phelps is a swimming champion. He has won 22 medals, including 18 golds, in the last three Olympic Games. His struggle with alcohol first came to limelight in 2004 after he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). He was again arrested in 2014 for the same reason, but began his journey with rehab and started attending Alcohol Anonymous meetings. Phelps was struggling with his drinking habits and during his long battle with alcohol abuse, he once stated that he “didn’t want to see another day.” However, he bounced back and is currently preparing for the upcoming Rio Olympic.

4. Todd Marinovich: Todd Marinovich, an NFL quarterback, has been more popular for his habit of using drugs to the optimum level — both on and off field. He started smoking weed in high school and gradually started taking drugs like heroin, cocaine and ecstasy during his professional career. In fact, once during half-time, he smoked crack and returned to the field to play in an inebriated state. Once destined to be the greatest quarterbacks of American football, he ruined his career due to his weakness for drugs.

5. Darryl Strawberry: Darryl Strawberry was an impressive performer with Major League Baseball (MLB), but his story of accomplishments is generally shadowed by his addiction to cocaine. During his 17-year-long career, he was suspended thrice by MLB and was known for his laidback attitude and erratic behavior, mostly triggered by cocaine and his fetish for alcohol.

Addiction will always be a bane for life

Addiction can be detrimental to life. If you or a loved one is battling addiction, the California Drug Abuse Help can assist you in getting treatment from one of the best drug rehab centers in California. There are several drug rehabs in California that can help you to be sober again with effective de-addiction programs. Our experts can assist you in getting the best treatment in one of the California drug rehab centers. Contact our de-addiction specialists at 855–980–1946 to know more about drug treatment centers in California.