5 famous sportspersons who died from drug-related causes

Lamar Odom was at death’s door and is barely recovering nowThere are seldom instances as harrowing as losing a promising young life to vices. It is tough to comprehend even an inkling of the bereavement of those close to the unfortunate soul. Now imagine the how harrowing it is for those in the public eye to go through such an experience.Witnessing a star sportspersons’s fall from grace, especially with the kind of perverse fanfare surrounding it, is even immensely distressing. While the loved ones are devastated by the tragedy, the fans struggle through with the shock of the incident, perplexed by why someone who perceivably “had it all” would allow their lives to take such a horrifying turn.In the light of NBA Superstar Lamar Odom’s recent brush with death due to substance overdose, we take a look at some well-loved athletes who were fell victim to their demons.

#1 Curt \"Mr. Perfect\" Hennig

Not as perfect as you’d imagine

Date of Birth: 28/03/1958

Died: 10/02/2003

Cause of Death: Cocaine overdose

The WWE Superstar was named by the organisation as one of the 5 greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time. He is widely accepted by fans and wrestlers as the one who brought credibility to the title and was the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of the 90s.

He was known for raising the bar when it came to technicality in wrestling. As Hulk Hogan perfectly summed it up: “Everybody would check their egos at the door when they came to a building that Curt Hennig was in, because you couldn't out-work him, you couldn't outshine him and you couldn't out-perform him. He was the best of the best.”

On February 10, 2003, Hennig was found dead in a Florida hotel room. He was 44 years old. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office declared acute cocaine intoxication to be the cause of his death. His father said that steroids and painkillers also contributed to his death. 

Hennig was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.