Athletes Battling Substance Abuse

Mike Tyson, Marion Jones, Michael Irvin and more.

Addiction Does Not Discriminate - Millions of Americans suffer from some form of addiction, including some of the most decorated athletes who have been known to struggle with drug abuse. In recent news, Mike Tyson admitted to lying about his sobriety, Lamar Odom is reportedly addicted to drugs and Major League Baseball suspended 13 players who violated drug policies.  BET.com takes a look at some of athletes who have used illegal drugs and battled substance abuse. — Dominique ZonyééLamar Odom's agent confirmed Tuesday that Odom is not missing, but staying in an LA hotel while friends and family try to convince him to seek help for a drug problem. He recently was spotted at a Taco Bell.(Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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Addiction Does Not Discriminate - Millions of Americans suffer from some form of addiction, including some of the most decorated athletes who have been known to struggle with drug abuse. In recent news, Mike Tyson admitted to lying about his sobriety, Lamar Odom is reportedly addicted to drugs and Major League Baseball suspended 13 players who violated drug policies.  BET.com takes a look at some of athletes who have used illegal drugs and battled substance abuse. — Dominique ZonyééLamar Odom's agent confirmed Tuesday that Odom is not missing, but staying in an LA hotel while friends and family try to convince him to seek help for a drug problem. He recently was spotted at a Taco Bell.(Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Mike Tyson's Message to Chris Brown - Singer Chris Brown spent a night in jail and quickly entered anger management rehab but not without Mike Tyson giving him a piece of his mind. During a radio interview with 95.5 PLJ Morning Show Tuesday, Tyson said he was worried about Brown and warned the young star to remain humble. The troubled artist was arrested for assault again last weekend. He allegedly punched a man on Sunday outside Washington, D.C., nightclub.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Mike Tyson - Mike Tyson, 47, may be a former undisputed heavy weight champion of the world, but he is not invincible. In a press conference on Friday in New York, Tyson revealed to reporters that he was lying about his sobriety and has continued to use alcohol and drugs. The boxing promoter battled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his career, having done three stints in rehab.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Darryl Strawberry - Darryl Strawberry, 51, made his mark on the New York Mets in 1983, but a hardcore addiction to cocaine and alcohol led Strawberry to be suspended three times. He spent 11 months in prison from 2002-2003 for violating drug policies at a court mandated rehab facility in Tampa.  Strawberry’s legal woes and battle with addiction led him to file for bankruptcy in 2012.(Photo: Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Roy Tarpley - Roy Tarpley, 48, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1986 draft. His short-lived career started off promising, but his addiction to cocaine and alcohol led him to rehab. His third season in the NBA was riddled by knee injuries and failed drug tests. He made headlines when the NBA suspended him indefinitely on Jan. 5, 1989.(Photo: Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Marion Jones - Popular track and field star Marion Jones made headlines when she won five gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but the winner’s glow wouldn’t last. In October 2007, Jones admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs and, as a result, forfeited all medals and prizes. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Marion Jones - Marion Jones, 37, a former world track and field athlete and Tulsa Shock WNBA star, used performance enhancing drugs as far back as September 2000. Jones admitted in 2007 that she perjured herself in 2003 during the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) drug scandal. She was stripped of the five medals she won at the 2000 Summer Olympics, sentenced to six months in prison, two years of probation and community service.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Michael Irvin - Former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin, 47, made a name for himself in the 1990s helping the Cowboys win three Super Bowls. Irvin’s battle with cocaine and alcohol surfaced in 1996 when he was arrested on charges of cocaine possession. After his retirement in 2005, he was again arrested for cocaine possession and suspended from his hosting job on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown.(Photo: Brian Bahr  /Allsport)

Bust: JaMarcus Russell - Drafted no. 1 overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2007, Louisiana State University quarterback JaMarcus Russell famously held out throughout training camp for a six-year, $60 million contract. Two lackluster seasons led to the Raiders benching him in 2009, the last year he played in the NFL, and his eventual release from the team in 2010. A drug arrest that year capped off his fall from grace, although the former star says he is preparing for a comeback in the 2013 season. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 

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JaMarcus Russell - JaMarcus Russell, 28, made headlines in 2007 with his $61 million quarterback contract with the Oakland Raiders, but due to poor performance, he was released in May 2010.  Russell was arrested in July 2010 for possession of a controlled substance. He later admitted that he often used “syrup,” the prescription cough medicine codeine. He allegedly kicked the habit and tried out for the Chicago Bears earlier this year but didn’t make the team.(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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Lawrence Taylor - Arguably one of the best linebackers in football history, Lawrence Taylor, 54, known for his wild ways on and off the field, has a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Taylor was suspended for 30 days when he tested positive for cocaine in 1987 and tested positive again in 1988.  Throughout his 13-year career, he would face several suspensions for failing drug tests. He retired in 1994 and continued to abuse cocaine.(Photo: Reuters)

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Len Bias - Len Bias died at the age of 22 from a cocaine overdose on June 18, 1986, hours after being drafted to the Boston Celtics and signing a $3 million sneaker deal with Reebok. (Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Crystal Cox - In 2010, six years after she won a gold medal for the 4x400-meter race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, former Survivor cast member Crystal Cox, 37, admitted to using anabolic steroids from 2001 to 2004. As a result, the International Olympic Committee stripped her of her medal.   (Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

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Crystal Cox - In 2010, six years after she won a gold medal for the 4x400-meter race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, former Survivor cast member Crystal Cox, 37, admitted to using anabolic steroids from 2001 to 2004. As a result, the International Olympic Committee stripped her of her medal.   (Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

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Barry Bonds - With 14 All Star and 8 Golden Glove Awards, Barry Bonds, 49, is said to be one of the greatest players in MLB history. But his major league career came to an in end in 2007 when it was revealed that he perjured himself during the 2003 BALCO steroids trial. Bonds was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and 250 hours of community service in 2011.(Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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Barry Bonds - With 14 All Star and 8 Golden Glove Awards, Barry Bonds, 49, is said to be one of the greatest players in MLB history. But his major league career came to an in end in 2007 when it was revealed that he perjured himself during the 2003 BALCO steroids trial. Bonds was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and 250 hours of community service in 2011.(Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Dwight Gooden - Former MLB star Dwighter Gooden, 48, was the youngest player, at 21, to pitch in the All-Star game in 1986, the same year the Mets won the World Series title. However, while his teammates celebrated, Gooden was on a cocaine binge. His battle with drugs resulted in several stints in rehab and him missing the entire 1995 season due to drug suspension. He appeared on Season 5 of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab.(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Dwight Gooden - Former MLB star Dwighter Gooden, 48, was the youngest player, at 21, to pitch in the All-Star game in 1986, the same year the Mets won the World Series title. However, while his teammates celebrated, Gooden was on a cocaine binge. His battle with drugs resulted in several stints in rehab and him missing the entire 1995 season due to drug suspension. He appeared on Season 5 of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab.(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The End of the Road - On Oct. 26, 2010, Iverson signed a two-year, $4 million net income contract with Beşiktaş Milangaz, a Turkish Basketball League team. He returned to the U.S. for calf surgery in 2011. Since leaving the NBA, Iverson's finances have plummeted, with reports that he was completely broke last February. It’s estimated that he made more than $150 million in salary in the NBA. (Photo: EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU/Landov)

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Allen Iverson - Allen Iverson, 38, was the first overall draft pick in 1996 for the Philadelphia 76ers. By 1997, the rookie was arrested on drugs and guns possession and was sentenced to probation and 100 hours of community service. While it was always rumored that he battled from drug and alcohol addiction, Iverson never admitted to having an issue.(Photo: EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU /Landov)