The undefeated former super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has today apologised for taking cocaine. In a statement on his website Welshman Calzaghe said he was “not proud of himself” following newspaper reports that revealed he had taken the drug.
Calzaghe said that he had “joined a list of royals, sports and showbiz stars who have been scammed by the News of the World's notorious Fake Sheikh.”
Calzaghe went on to say: “The reporter, Mazer Mahmood, who spends his life disguising himself and his team members to entrap celebrities came into my life with an accomplice. They were posing as the London representatives of an investment bank.
“I met them a few times because they were plausible and seemed to be offering a good business proposition.
“Unbeknown to me, every word spoken was filmed and tape recorded using sophisticated and secret surveillance equipment as part of a News of the World sting operation.
“Much of the discussion took place in a relaxed environment with drink flowing freely. Like most such conversations therefore, there was a lot of joshing and not everything said was meant seriously.
“However, during several hours of conversations, I made passing references to cocaine - again something I am definitely NOT proud of.”
Calzaghe has found himself to have plenty of time on his hands following his retirement from the ring. He has appeared on BBC 1 programme “Strictly Come Dancing” and has also done some charity work. It is thought that he turned to cocaine and partying to help with his boredom.
Calzaghe added: “I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring.
"I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans.
"It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing.”
From the statement it would not appear that Calzaghe has a serious drugs problem. It is probably just a story being blown up to sell newspapers.
Calzaghe retired following his victory over Roy Jones Jnr at the tail end of 2008. Jones Jnr has since said that Calzaghe is using cocaine as a substitute for the ring and he should return and fight the winner of the Jones Jnr and Bernard Hopkins fight.
There seems no real reason for anyone to trouble Calzaghe, he isn’t out of control and just enjoying himself following his retirement, he got caught out and I doubt he will do it again.
It would seem very unlikely that Calzaghe would make a return to the ring. He has nothing left to prove having unified the super-middleweight division and beaten two of the best light-heavyweights.
Like many retired sportsmen, Calzaghe just needs to find something to do with his time now he isn’t concentrating on boxing and working towards fights. He doesn’t seem like the type to go off the rails and will probably find some niche to fall into in the future.
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