Drugs shame Ricky Hatton apologises after cocaine probe

Shamed: Ricky Hatton
12 April 2012

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton today issues an apology for his descent into drink and drugs, promising he never took cocaine during his professional career.

The 31-year-old, who is to be investigated by police over allegations he snorted cocaine in a hotel room, was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic on Monday.

During an interview on ITV's Daybreak, Hatton, who was secretly filmed taking what is alleged to be lines of the class A drug on a night out, admits he "dabbled in it" while struggling to deal with the humiliation of sporting lows.

Acknowledging he "upset fans", he says: "Sorry is not a big enough word for what I want to say to them."

The father-of-one, who is unable to remember when he first took cocaine - or how frequently - insists his life went down hill after he retired from the sport.

Asked if he used the class A drug while boxing, he replies: "No. Never, never."

And he tells correspondent John Stapleton: "I've been in such a low place, such a bad place I couldn't tell you. Half the time I could not tell you if it was cocaine."

Hatton has previously attributed his fall from grace to his retirement.

But he admits he has also struggled with problems in his personal life.

"I have a wonderful son, nine years old and me and his mam at times have not seen eye to eye," he says.

The star, who claims at times he was only able to see the little boy once a week, also speaks of his parents saying: "When I told them I was retiring I got the impression they didn't really care too much."

The two-weight world champion, who has not fought since May 2009, adds: "I've upset my fans, my family, everybody that has been with me from day one. Sorry is not a big enough word for what I want to say to them."

Recalling the aftermath of one agonising defeat, he says: "I couldn't show my face for months and months on end.

"I was suffering really, really badly so even though I always used to have a drink, I started drinking a little bit more, and along with the depression I think my personal life hasn't been great; my relationship with my parents hasn't been the best and along with struggling and coping with retirement, things got on top of me and slowly just went from bad to worse and it ended up resulting in dabbling in other silly things."

Hatton is to be interviewed by police once his rehabilitation is complete.

Daybreak airs from 6am on ITV1 and the interview will be broadcast at 7.30am.

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