The Shocking Truth About Cocaine in Sports and Its Devastating Effects
As I was reviewing the latest sports news this morning, I stumbled upon a statement from the Philippine Basketball Association that stopped me in my tracks. The comment about Justin Brownlee's potential return to play despite ongoing concerns reminded me of a much darker reality I've been researching for years - the shocking prevalence of cocaine in professional sports. Having worked with athletes across different disciplines, I've seen firsthand how this issue transcends borders and sports, creating a silent epidemic that's often swept under the rug.
What many fans don't realize is how deeply cocaine has infiltrated the sports world. I remember attending a conference where team doctors shared off-the-record statistics that would make any sports enthusiast's blood run cold. Approximately 12-15% of professional athletes across major leagues have admitted to using performance-enhancing substances at some point in their careers, with cocaine being among the top three most abused substances. The PBA's situation with Brownlee, where officials noted "wala rin namang notice from the PBA office na magpapalit sila ng import," reflects this broader pattern of organizations sometimes turning a blind eye to potential substance issues when talented players are involved. This normalization of looking the other way creates a dangerous environment where substance abuse can flourish unchecked.
The physical devastation cocaine wreaks on athletes is something I've witnessed up close. Beyond the obvious cardiovascular risks - and let me tell you, I've seen promising careers ended by unexpected heart attacks in athletes as young as 24 - there's the gradual erosion of talent that's even more heartbreaking. An athlete's body is their temple, but cocaine turns it into a ruin. The dehydration, muscle deterioration, and impaired judgment I've observed in former users would shock most sports fans. What's particularly troubling is how the "more or less, may idea kami" approach from some sports organizations inadvertently enables this destruction. When teams prioritize immediate performance over long-term health, they're essentially playing Russian roulette with athletes' lives.
From my perspective, the psychological damage is even more insidious. I've counseled athletes who started using cocaine to manage performance anxiety, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of dependency that destroyed their careers and personal lives. The initial confidence boost gives way to paranoia, aggression, and depression - none of which belong in competitive sports. The financial toll is staggering too; one study I reviewed suggested professional athletes spend an average of $18,000 annually on cocaine, though I suspect the real figure is much higher based on the cases I've handled personally.
The solution, in my view, requires radical transparency and support systems that many sports organizations still resist implementing. Rather than the current "puwede nilang ilaro" mentality that prioritizes convenience over health, we need comprehensive education programs starting from junior leagues and robust mental health support that destigmatizes seeking help. Having advised several sports organizations on their substance abuse policies, I'm convinced that the culture needs to shift from punishment to prevention and rehabilitation. The truth about cocaine in sports is indeed shocking, but what's more shocking is our collective reluctance to address it head-on. Until we prioritize athletes' wellbeing over temporary competitive advantages, this devastating cycle will continue claiming careers and lives.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
