There are already many professional wrestlers whose death is linked to steroids use and other substance of abuse. This may not be surprising because of the nature of their profession. They have to maintain a good body physique, stamina and endurance and the most important thing is strength and power. However, the use of performance enhancing drugs in professional wrestling becomes a menace because of its abuse which commonly leads to health problems such a depression. And the worst is committing suicide.

The wrestling world is again in grief for the loss of another champion wrestler, Chris Kanyon. He was found dead at his Queens, NY apartment last Friday. Kanyon’s real name is Christopher Klucsaritis. Based on initial reports, the wrestler committed suicide because of the various steroid pills found near his body. But investigators are still looking for other angle of Kanyon’s death.

What are the reasons why many people immediately linked his death to overdose of steroids? Chris Kanyon, who is also known as “The Innovator of Offense” when he first appeared in 1997 at the WCW, was said to be under great depression and suffering from bipolar disorder. His condition may have been aggravated by his retirement from the sports. Many are saying that Kanyon still wants to play as a professional wrestler but he was never given another chance to capture the spotlight again. Before his death, Kanyon only appeared in independent and charity matches.

Kanyon first appeared in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as the masked wrestler Mortis. His fame started in WCW and he was named as the “The Innovator of Offense”. He also formed the “The Jersey Triad” in 1999. He ended his career in WCW in 2001 with several championship titles on his belt. He was the WCW United States Champion and WCW world Tag team champion with Diamond Dallas Page. He then played for the WWF and WWE up to 2004 but he was not able to get the same fame he received in WCW which lead to his early retirement from the sports.

Other wrestlers like Mick Foley expressed his concern on the fate of some retired professional wrestlers. Foley said in his blog that wrestlers need a “soft landing” after retirement. Many of them suffer financial problem which leads to depression. Most of them also continue the use of steroids which worsen their health conditions. “Unfortunately, suicide is a solution that far too many wrestlers have opted for,” Foley said. “I really wish there was some kind of emotional crash pad for wrestlers to land on when the bright lights dim, or when injuries take their toll, or when one is finally forced to face the fact that the next big break just might not come around,” Foley added.

Most wrestlers who retire or forced to retire from wrestling due to injuries have no other job skills to make for a living said James Caldwell of PWTorch. The sports should have organized or implemented programs to help these wrestlers. Caldwell made as an example the Wrestler’s Rescue, an organization that helps wrestlers. Foley is a member of this organization and has worked with other advocacy-type groups. “I hope we’ll see Foley use his name-value and organizational work to help his wrestling colleagues find that soft-landing “once the lights dim” and wrestlers have to find another way to make a living outside of their chosen profession,” said Caldwell.

The WWE has already implemented some changes in the format of their games to replace the so-called steroid-era and has claimed that they have a well established anti-doping policy but programs for retired wrestlers should be their next concern to avoid further deaths as a result of a miserable life after their wrestling careers. They should see to it that there will be no more deaths similar to Chris Benoit and many others who claimed their life because of steroids and fall from their careers.

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