Saturday 29 January 2011

The former Great Britain hooker, Terry Newton, had traces of anabolic steroids, cocaine, and amphetamines in his system when he killed himself in September.
Newton became the first professional sportsman to test positive for human growth hormone in February and was serving a suspension of two years when he took his life at the age of 31.
"We have a picture where steroid abuse may well have led on to behavioural changes. We can say that is virtually certain. Subsequently they have rendered Mr Newton, on the balance of probabilities, unable to form an appropriate judgment as to the nature and quality of his actions."
Newton's wife Stacey attended the hearing at Bolton coroner's court with other close family members. She was too upset to give evidence. Newton was discovered by police in the loft of his home in Orrell, Wigan, on 26 September, after Stacey had told a friend she was concerned for his safety. He had left notes around the house expressing a desire to end his life.
Toxicology reports showed he had taken the steroid nandrolone within the week of his death and traces of cocaine and amphetamine were in his urine, along with alcohol and anti-depressants. Human growth hormone cannot be tested for in post-mortem samples. None of the banned drugs were a direct factor in the cause of death but all could have lowered a person's mood, the inquest was told.
Some experts are of the view that Newton's death could have delivered a macabre warning to others about the dangers of taking performance enhancing drugs.

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