? Former Great Britain hooker had taken steroids and cocaine
? Wigan coroner records open verdict on death in September
Terry Newton had traces of anabolic steroids, cocaine and amphetamines in his system when he killed himself in September, leading the coroner who conducted the inquest today to suggest that the former Great Britain hooker had delivered a macabre warning to others about the dangers of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Newton became the first professional sportsman to test positive for human growth hormone in February and was serving a two-year suspension when he took his life at the age of 31. Recording an open verdict rather than one of suicide, because she could not be sure of his mental state at the time, the Wigan coroner Jennifer Leeming said: "I am aware that Mr Newton had indicated that he had hoped to work with the Rugby Football League to warn other sportsmen of the dangers of drugs and in his death, it is the biggest warning to others.
"We have a picture where steroid abuse may well have led on to behavioural changes. We can say that is virtually certain. Subsequently they have rendered Mr Newton, on the balance of probabilities, unable to form an appropriate judgment as to the nature and quality of his actions."
Newton's wife Stacey attended the hearing at Bolton coroner's court with other close family members. She was too upset to give evidence. Newton was discovered by police in the loft of his home in Orrell, Wigan, on 26 September, after Stacey had told a friend she was concerned for his safety. He had left notes around the house expressing a desire to end his life.
Toxicology reports showed he had taken the steroid nandrolone within the week of his death and traces of cocaine and amphetamine were in his urine, along with alcohol and anti-depressants. Human growth hormone cannot be tested for in post-mortem samples. None of the banned drugs were a direct factor in the cause of death but all could have lowered a person's mood, the inquest was told.
Giving evidence, the forensic toxicologist Julie Evans said long-term use of certain steroids could change the way the brain deals with moods, with common side-effects being paranoid jealousy, irritability, delusions and impaired judgment. Similar problems could be encountered with regular use of cocaine, one of the drugs most commonly linked to attempted suicide and suicide, she said. The inquest was told his family had noticed a change in Newton's behaviour as he started to use drugs other than steroids. Evans added that research had shown a high incidence of steroid users go on to abuse other drugs, especially opiates. Many switch to other drugs to try to cope with steroid withdrawal. Evans said: "We cannot say exactly what his state of mind was but there are a number of drugs on board that could affect the state of mind."
Many of Newton's former club and international team-mates are planning a memorial match between teams representing Wigan and Great Britain on Easter Saturday next year, which will be followed by a dinner to raise money for Stacey and their two young children. "I've been overwhelmed by the response," said his father, Tony. "It's been incredible the way people have come together."
"I'm sure there are lots of people still asking 'why?' and they will be for a long time," said Terry O'Connor, a prop who packed down alongside Newton for both club and country. "It's indescribable the amount of devastation he's left behind."
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