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      in Soccer

      Ex-England footballer banned from pharmacies for using fake prescriptions to get pills & becoming aggressive with staff

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      AN ex-Premier League ace has been banned from pharmacies for using a fake prescription to obtain sleeping pills.The former England under-21 international is one 78 football stars known to be seeking help for their addiction to drugs or booze.
      A former England under-21 international has been banned from pharmacies for using a fake prescription to get sleeping pillsCredit: Getty
      Also known as ‘sleepers’, zopiclone can create a recreational high when mixed with alcoholCredit: Alamy
      The household name was said to have used a letter containing the name and details of real doctors from a surgery in Bournemouth to obtain zopiclone.
      Also known as “sleepers”, the drug can create a recreational high when mixed with alcohol.
      The player became aggressive when told by pharmacy staff the prescription was fake — and fled before police were called.
      A source said: “There was a horrible set-to when he was refused his sleeping pills. The staff felt they were in danger.
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      “An alert was written to warn other pharmacies. He went on to try virtually every other chemist in South London.”
      NHS England confirmed it sent a warning to all London pharmacies advising staff not to serve the individual.
      The Players Foundation — previously the PFA — said 38 current and 40 retired stars were treated for substance abuse last season — a rise on the 59 total of the year before.
      Thirty-five went into rehab.
      Most read in Football
      We previously told of a struggling England ace popping zopiclone with champagne or vodka.
      And two other Three Lions players have turned to the black market to get their hands on larger quantities of the class C prescription medication.
      Nitrous oxide is also said to be increasingly popular among footballers, with Players Foundation chief Colin Bland seeing a “notable increase” during Covid.
      The union is working with the Sporting Chance clinic to boost care for stars. More

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      in Boxing

      I was drinking and doing drugs before boxing showed up out of nowhere and saved me, says Jake Paul

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      JAKE PAUL has opened up on how boxing prevented him from his life spiralling out of control on drink and drugs. The American shot to fame on social media app Vine and later YouTube along with his brother Logan.
      Jake Paul formerly lived a life of partyingCredit: @jakepaul
      And in pursuit of fame and fortune, both moved to Los Angeles where their life moved in the fast lane.
      But it almost became too much for Paul until thankfully a shock career in boxing helped turn his life around.
      He bravely told DAZN: “I was drinking, doing drugs, doing all sorts of crazy s*** in Los Angeles, not being myself. 
      “Because that’s what happens when you’re drinking like that and doing those things like that.
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      “I needed something to save me and boxing showed up out of nowhere. 
      “I definitely worry – that side of me is the Problem Child side of me – that can get involved in those of things. 
      “But everybody has a story and I’m just now comfortable telling that story because I was kind of embarrassed by it. 
      “I didn’t know if I could talk about those things, I didn’t want to say that I had those problems or was doing those things. 
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      “But I was like, if I can share my story about that and finding boxing and saving me then maybe someone else will be able to relate.” 
      Paul, 26, made his professional boxing debut in 2020, beating online rival AnEsonGib.
      It kickstarted a polarising prizefighting career which has seen the social media sensation headline around the world.
      He even moved out of LA in late 2020 to rid of any distractions, since building an isolated base in Puerto Rico.
      Paul has wins over ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 41, and Anderson Silva, 48.
      But he was beaten in his last bout in February by boxer Tommy Fury, 23, losing a split-decision in Saudi Arabia.
      Paul now returns on August 5 in Texas against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, in a bid to prove he can bounce back from defeat.
      And having seen boxing change his life, the Most Valuable Promotions boss insisted he will be a mainstay in the sport.
      Read More on The Sun
      Paul said: “One hundred per cent, always. Promoting fights, helping fighters, using my platform. 
      “I’ve even thought about getting my referee’s licence. Wouldn’t that be funny? Wouldn’t that be funny, if I’m like in the ring, refitting a match?” 
      Jake Paul in training for his next fight More

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      Former LaLiga star accepts six-year prison sentence after confessing to leading drug trafficking ring

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      A former LaLiga footballer has accepted a six-year prison sentence after confessing to leading a drug trafficking ring.Sergio Contreras, better known as Koke, agreed to a plea bargain deal at a court in Malaga after being warned state prosecutors were seeking to have him imprisoned for 16 years ahead of his trial.
      Sergio Contreras played for the likes of Marseille, Malaga and Sporting LisbonCredit: AFP
      He has accepted a six-year prison sentenceCredit: AFP
      The ex-striker, whose clubs included Malaga, Marseille and Sporting Lisbon, was one of 17 defendants accused of buying large amounts of drugs that were smuggled in lorries into different European countries.
      Koke had been described in a pre-trial indictment as the gang leader.
      The drugs were mainly marijuana and cannabis resin, but also included cocaine.
      The gang Koke has now admitted he led was raided in November 2019 following a police operation codenamed Operation Vinculada that involved wiretaps and undercover follows.
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      One of the drug runs linked to the ex-footballer’s gang, consisting of vacuum-packed marijuana and cocaine hidden inside a cargo of garlic, was valued at £350,000.
      All 16 of the defendants who showed up for a trial at Malaga’s Provincial Court on March 27, which ended up being suspended following a no-show by a 17th female defendant police are still hunting, admitted their guilt at a brief hearing on Tuesday.
      As part of the plea bargain deals they struck following a subsequent period of negotiation between state prosecutors and their defence lawyers, they have agreed to accept prison sentences of between two and six years reflecting their different responsibilities in the gang.
      Jail sentences for first-time offenders in Spain normally end up being suspended.
      Most read in Football
      Koke, 40, started his footballing career at hometown club Malaga.
      He went on to join Marseille before being loaned to Sporting Lisbon.
      He produced the best football of his career in years at Greek side Aris, where the first of his two spells there included a brief cameo in a 2011 3-0 Europa League defeat to Manchester City.
      The forward retired from football in 2016. More

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      in Soccer

      I’m an ex-international ace.. I carried condom in my sock for half-time bonk with fan & was jailed for smuggling cocaine

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      FORMER Israel international Felix Halfon always carried a condom in his sock during matches in case he got lucky at half-time.And that’s exactly what happened back in 1993 during an international friendly against Sweden.
      Felix Halfon carried a condom in his sock and had sex at half-timeCredit: Alamy
      Halfon missed his manager’s half-time talk as he got up close and personal with a Swedish fan in a cupboard.
      Israel didn’t benefit from the now 51-year-old’s actions as they went on to lose 5-0.
      The former defender, though, insisted that was “no big deal” as he confirmed he “always” wore a condom in his socks.
      Halfon previously admitted: “It was no big deal. I always carried a condom in one of my socks.”
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      That revelation was made in a book written by former Israel FA spokesperson Shaul Eisenberg.
      Eisenberg was criticised for “exposing filth in football” by the country’s former FA director Gavri Levy.
      However, the ex-football chief defended his account, saying: “Let’s be rational, my publisher wasn’t going to pay me to keep things clean.”
      Halfon was no stranger to controversy during his 28-year career, which saw him amass 38 caps.
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      The former right-back was also caught smuggling cocaine into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport back in 2003.
      The ex-Maccabi Tel Aviv ace was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
      Halfon was released after two-and-a-half years due to good behaviour and actually resumed his playing career. More

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      in Boxing

      I was Mike Tyson’s hardest fight despite $150-a-day heroin addiction and gangster life – I was my own toughest opponent

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      PINKLON THOMAS is the heavyweight who became champion while battling heroin addiction and was credited as Mike Tyson’s hardest fight.Thomas won the WBC title in 1984, having had just THREE amateur bouts, and also fought Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe in is career.
      Former heavyweight champion Pinklon ThomasCredit: Getty
      But he admits his hardest opponent was himself, having fought substance abuse during the peak of his career.
      Thomas was born in Pontiac, Michigan and was not raised with his two sisters in poverty.
      Instead, Thomas was drawn to a life of crime on his own and before his teenage years he was using drugs.
      He told The Ring: “I chose to go to the projects, I wasn’t from the projects, I chose the lifestyle. I was an athlete in elementary school.

      “By the time I was in seventh grade I was shooting heroin. I got caught up early.
      “I was hanging out with older guys because I was bigger than guys I went to school with.”
      Thomas first tried heroin when he was 12 years old and by 14 he had a $150-a-day (£125) habit. He was then kicked out of school at 15.
      As a result, he reverted to a life of crime in order to fund his drug addiction.
      Most read in Boxing
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      Thomas revealed: “I did a lot of crazy things to get money. I did what I had to do for my habit.
      “I did things against the law – armed robbery, cleared out cash registers, snatched money. I did all kinds of crazy stuff.”

      Thomas was just 17 he got married and soon after his wife joined the army but his own application was declined.
      Although after his wife fell pregnant, she received honourable discharge and the couple settled in Seattle.
      Thomas was later evicted from his home for failing to pay the rent and was forced to live in public housing.
      It was there he began bragging about being professional boxer – despite never trying the sport before.
      He was then invited to the local gym and recalls: “I had just shot some heroin and cocaine speedball.
      I did things against the law: armed robbery, cleared out cash registers, snatched money. I did all kinds of crazy stuff.Pinklon Thomas
      “They had told the trainer, Joe West, the same lie I had told them. He told me he wanted me to hit the bag.
      “I didn’t know if I was right-handed or left-handed, and after three or four minutes I ran out the door and threw up everywhere.”
      Thomas would go on to have just three amateur bouts, winning two, before turning pro in 1978.
      And he later linked up with Muhammad Ali’s former coach Angelo Dundee, meaning he rubbed shoulders with The Greatest.
      Thomas told Pro Boxing Fans: “Because Angelo was affiliated with Ali, and Ali was around a lot I learned a lot from him too.
      “Angelo would always bring me to different functions that was going on with Ali and I would watch what he would do.”
      Thomas, with Dundee in his corner, won the title after beating American Tim Witherspoon.
      Pinklon Thomas beat Tim Witherspoon for the WBC titleCredit: Getty
      He said: “I never dreamed I could reach that level, I never even set a goal. It was the greatest accomplishment of my life at that time.”
      But following just one successful defence, Thomas lost the belt to Trevor Berbick in 1986.
      In the same year, Tyson knocked out Berbick aged 20 to become the youngest heavyweight champ of all time – a record which still stands.
      Thomas had three confidence-building wins before he challenged Tyson, but was beaten in six rounds.
      Amazingly, Tyson “didn’t impress” him as he claimed: “It was just unfortunate that six weeks before the fight I had a shoulder injury.
      “I figured my experience with the left jab [would help me win] ‘cause I didn’t have a right hand ‘cause of the shoulder.
      “I did well for two rounds, then the glove split. It took about nine minutes and 40 seconds to get me another glove which gave him time to rest.”
      Mike Tyson beat Pinklon Thomas in 1987Credit: Getty
      Pinklon Thomas was Mike Tyson’s hardest ever fightCredit: Getty
      Pinklon Thomas was knocked out in round six by Mike TysonCredit: Getty
      On the contrary, Tyson named Thomas as the hardest fight of his career, telling History Bites: “He was my toughest opponent.
      “I never thought him, but two years ago I watched the tape of him, a friend of mine told me to watch it.
      “I hit him with seventeen punches, flat, on the face, he went down but it was seventeen punches.
      “Seventeen punches, flush, all of them were as hard as they could be and the last one he just passed out.
      “I thought ‘God, that is my toughest fight, he took seventeen on the chin!’”
      Thomas went on to face Holyfield the year after, losing in seven rounds in what was his first fight off drugs.
      I thought ‘God, that is my toughest fight, he took seventeen on the chin!’Mike Tyson on Pinklon Thomas
      He said: “My toughest opponent was me, myself, because of the drug addiction and stuff I did.
      “I was still using at the time that I was fighting all of those guys until I fought Evander Holyfield in ’88. Then I went to treatment and I got in recovery by 1989.
      “So, I was my worst enemy, my toughest opponent and that’s just no joke, it’s no lie. I honestly am just saying what I feel.
      “I get asked that question all the time sometimes I would say it was different fighters but to be honest with you, man, I was my own toughest opponent, a dummy and I made some crazy decisions.”
      Thomas faced ex-champions Bowe and Tommy Morrison, losing both, before having 14 more lower-level bouts.
      He won all of them bar one and that defeat in 1993 to Lawrence Carter spelled the end of Thomas’ career.
      In later life, Thomas settled in Florida with his wife and has four children, two with his partner and two from a previous relationship.
      He is also a grandfather to five grandchildren and has been clean from all drugs and alcohol for 30 years.

      Thomas ran a non-profit organisation called Project P.I.N.K. (Pride In Neighborhood Kids) helping educate and mentor youths.
      Evander Holyfield against Pinklon Thomas in 1988Credit: Getty
      Michael Buffer, Pinklon Thomas and Bob Alexander in 2015Credit: Getty More

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      in Boxing

      Gervonta Davis’ trainer claims says Bernard Hopkins ‘rubbed testosterone cream on Tank to taint drug test’

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      BERNARD HOPKINS has been accused of rubbing testosterone cream on Gervonta Davis in an alleged effort to taint the fighter’s drug sample ahead of his win over Ryan Garcia.Davis went on to win the fight with a brutal body shot in the seventh-round.
      Gervonta Davis’ trainer claims Bernard Hopkins rubbed testorone cream on Tank during the pre-fight face-offCredit: ESPN
      Bernard Hopkins touched the star’s back during the tense face-offCredit: Getty
      That was after Garcia, 24, had a tense face-off with his rival and became embroiled in a shoving match.
      Golden Boy Promotions executive and boxing legend Hopkins, who promotes Garcia, stood on the periphery of that melee and then appeared to rub his hand across Davis’s back at one point.
      And the Baltimore native and his camp have now revealed they were infuriated by it.
      The 28-year-old wrote in a now deleted tweet: “I should’ve slapped the s*** outta B-Hop as soon as he touched me.”

      Davis’ trainer Calvin Ford then promoted a theory on social media that he believed Hopkins was rubbing testosterone cream on his star’s back in order to taint a drug test.
      A text message shared by Ford on instagram read: “Coach beware of B hop and testosterone cream.
      “[It] will make you test dirty. Be careful.”
      Ford then added his own caption: “See this is why Bernard touch him.”
      Most read in Sport
      Golden Boy have been contacted by Sun Sport for comment on the allegations.
      Continuing his rant about Hopkins on Friday, Davis said: “[Hopkins is] talking about he about that life, man, nobody’s worried about his old ass, he needs to sit back and let the youngins do it.”
      Meanwhile, DAZN were forced to apologise after huge issues with the Davis and Garcia fight.
      Hundreds of TV viewers flocked to social media to complain about purchasing the PPV clash.
      Fans had paid $84.99 all together to watch the huge bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
      But boxing supporters suffered delays to their streams and accessing the broadcast.
      That forced DAZN to take to Twitter – but fans were left fuming with issues even after the first bell. More

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      in Boxing

      Conor Benn charged over failed drugs test and could face two-year boxing ban

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      CONOR BENN has been charged by UK Anti-Doping over his failed drugs test as the boxer vowed to ‘start the process’ to clear his name.Following two failed summer Voluntary Anti-Doping Association tests, an October catchweight clash with Chris Eubank Jr was cancelled.
      Conor Benn has been charged over his failed drugs testCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The WBC dropped their investigation into the traces of clomifene and blamed contaminated eggs.
      But Team Benn believes the lab that processed his tests is at fault and has now handed Ukad a 270-page document in his bid to beat a two-year ban.
      However the 26-year-old son of ring legend Nigel still believes the British Boxing Board of Control have an agenda against him and is not interested in regaining his licence here.
      Following news that Benn was handed a provisional Ukad suspension on May 15 and charged a month later, he said: “Another day, another attempt to create a headline with my name.
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      “I am involved in a confidential procedure and I have respected my confidentiality obligations.
      “Yet each day brings a new leak and a misrepresentation of what’s actually happening
      “There is no news. Being “charged” is a start of a process by which an athlete has to defend themselves. 
      “I have not been sanctioned by anyone & I’m not banned from boxing.
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      “I remain free to fight in events that are not sanctioned by the BBBoC. I don’t even have a BBBoC licence.”
      Such procedures are usually confidential, such as the recent case with Amir Khan who failed a post-fight test 14 months ago and was only just served with a two-year ban.
      But, following intense speculation and social media posts from Benn on Wednesday, Ukad have released a statement that said: “Following reports in the media and comments made by professional boxer Mr Conor Benn on Tuesday 18 April 2023, and in exceptional circumstances, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) confirms that Mr Benn was notified and provisionally suspended by UKAD on 15 March 2023 in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules. 
      “Whilst provisionally suspended Mr Benn is prohibited from participating in any capacity (or assisting another Athlete in any capacity) in a Competition, Event or activity that is organised, convened, authorised or recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control or any other World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport.
      “UKAD can also confirm that on 3 April 2023 it charged Mr Benn with an Article 2.2 violation for the alleged Use of a Prohibited Substance (clomifene). The charge against Mr Benn is pending and will now follow the Results Management process in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.
      “UKAD issues this statement in accordance with its Policy on Public disclosure of provisional suspensions and charges and Articles 7.10.7 and 7.11.5 of the UK Anti-Doping Rules. UKAD will not be providing any further comment at this stage.”
      The Board, who employ Ukad to handle all of their doping policing and policies, said: “The BBBoC can confirm that Conor Benn has been charged by UKAD with an Article 2.2 violation for the alleged Use of a Prohibited Substance.
      “The BBBoC relies upon UKAD to ensure that professional boxers comply with the UKAD Rules (as incorporated into the BBBoC’s Rules and Regulations), and awaits the outcome of the UKAD process in due course. 
      “The BBBoC will not be making any further comment at this time.”
      There is no news. Being “charged” is a start of a process by which an athlete has to defend themselves. Conor Benn
      Benn and promoter Eddie Hearn have been exploring the idea of resuming his career in Abu Dhabi.
      But now charges have been brought against Benn and Ukad work in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency, that move could be kyboshed.
      The Board have contacted a number of foreign commissions and warned them against hosting a Benn bout.
      And any British licence holder involved – like trainer Tony Sims, promoter Hearn or potential opponent Eubank Jr – could be fined or suspended.
      And Hearn is furious that so many details about Benn’s case are being made public.
      He told IFL: “Why do all the media know before me? Yet in Amir Khan’s situation, for 14 months nobody knew?
      “Someone from the Board or Ukad have told the media, there is no other explanation for it.
      “What can Ukad ban him from? He doesn’t have a BBBofC licence.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Ukad have everything they need now, they have the 270-page document, that should keep people happy.
      “But do you honestly think Conor Benn is going to get a fair hearing? Please.”
      Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s fight was axedCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Fallen ace Dele Alli sprawls on bed with four girls and three pals on same night as hippy crack snap

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      FALLEN England star Dele Alli sprawls on a bed with four girls and three male pals during a night partying.He ended up in a girl’s flat after a splurge at a club, where more than £6,000 was splashed on champagne and tequila.
      Fallen England star Dele Alli has been pictured sprawling on the bed with four girls and three male pals after a night partyingCredit: Supplied
      He was later pictured with a balloon in his mouth and laughing gas canistersCredit: Twitter
      It was the same night he was later pictured with a balloon in his mouth and laughing gas canisters, which led to concern being expressed about him in the football world.
      Our exclusive pictures show Dele, 27, hiding his face while on the bed with mates including recently-retired ex-Chelsea player Izzy Jay Brown, 26, and four young women after the trip to Chinawhite in Manchester.
      And we can reveal the ex-Spurs idol went clubbing twice in ten days in Turkey, where he was on loan to Besiktas from current club Everton.
      Sources claimed £110,000-a-week Dele, in a relationship with Sports Illustrated model Cindy Kimberly, 24, left Chinawhite with the girls — at least one of whom is said to work there — at 4am.
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      They are thought to have headed to a flat in Salford, where they all posed for a selfie on a bed.
      Dele was snapped around 7am or 8am in a vest and the same cap as in our bedroom pic — with the balloon and the canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas and hippy crack.
      Dele once England’s brightest footballing talent, returned to Everton for hip injury treatment after the failed loan in Turkey.
      A source said: “Dele was having a great time drinking with his mates at the club.
      Most read in Football
      “They had a booth and the girls were serving them. They went back to one of the girls’ apartments and partied on until morning.”
      One of the women is art student Niamh Saunders, 20, who shared the bed snap on Instagram.
      We can reveal Dele spent some of his final days at Besiktas partying in nightclubs until the early hours.
      The team played three matches in March but he was not involved and his manager said he went AWOL.
      Dele confirmed today his season is over as he shared a pic from his hospital bed on Instagram after hip surgery. He vowed to “focus fully on my recovery”.
      But he is suggested to have “forgotten how to play” while in Turkey.
      A fan there said: “It’s crazy to think what he is like now compared to a few years ago.”
      Dele was once England’s brightest footballing talentCredit: Getty
      Dele confirmed today his season is over as he shared a pic from his hospital bed on Instagram after hip surgeryCredit: Instagram
      Dele is in a relationship with Sports Illustrated model Cindy KimberlyCredit: Getty More