Canadian Football League (CFL) player Jordan Matechuk blamed depression for his decision to buy large quantities of anabolic steroids. Matechuk was busted by the United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) during a secondary inspection at the International Bridge in Sault Sainte Marie (Michigan). The professional football player had 543 oral steroid pills and 262 milliliters of injectable steroids in his possession as he returned to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp.
Matechuk claimed that anabolic steroids and marijuana were used as a “coping mechanism” to manage his depression. He suggested that the discontinuation of his anti-depressant medications led to his steroid use.
“The things that happened to me, I did them to myself,” said Matechuk. “I live with depression, I suffer from the mental illness of depression, and I used steroids and marijuana as part of a coping mechanism to make me feel better. I went off my medication when I shouldn’t have.”
Matechuk pleaded guilty to one count each of steroid possession and marijuana possession in United States federal court in July 2011. Matechuk faced up to two years in prison. However, he only served 60 days after being sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Matechuk has always proclaimed that there was “another side to the story” since the time of his arrest but has chosen to keep that information confidential until now.
Matechuk has received a second chance to play professionally for the Canadian Football League. He expressed his shame at being arrested for steroids in a letter of apology and contrition sent to every team in the league. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, for whom he played for four years, did not have any desire to bring a convicted steroid user back to their team. However, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were happy to give him a second chance.
Source:
Wazny, A. (April 25, 2012). Blue Bombers’ Jordan Matechuk used drugs to cope with depression. Retrieved from http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/Blue+Bombers+return+logo/6511475/story.html
