WWE offers to pay for past wrestlers’ drug rehab

In what could be World Wrestling Entertainment's most significant acknowledgment to date of a locker room drug epidemic that has led to the deaths of numerous pro wrestlers, company officials have offered to pay for rehabilitation for past performers.

"Over the last 10 years, an inordinate number of wrestlers have passed away," WWE chairman Vince McMahon wrote in the letter, published Friday by prowrestlingtorch.com. "Some of those deaths may in part have been caused by drugs and alcohol."

In the letter, McMahon asks wrestlers to spread word of the offer to other past performers who may have substance abuse problems.

The letter offers to put ex-wrestlers through a certified drug or alcohol rehabilitation program chosen by WWE. "The WWE will pay for this service in full. There is no cost to you or your family," McMahon wrote in the letter. "We all need to do anything we can to help prevent another tragedy."

WWE officials said the letter was sent to about 500 wrestlers beginning a week ago.

"The decision to do so was made by Vince as a humanitarian gesture, period," WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said in a statement. "It is not intended to be, nor is it ... an acknowledgment of responsibility for the substance problems of anybody."

The letter comes three months after police said WWE star Chris Benoit killed his wife and young son, and then himself. Large quantities of anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home and an autopsy revealed highly elevated levels of testosterone in his system.

Nearly 50 well-known wrestling personalities have died under the age of 50 since 1997. Five former WWE wrestlers under 50 have died this year alone.

McDevitt said WWE's gesture "will do no more than help those who want to help themselves but lack the resources to pay for rehabilitation."

Former WWE wrestler and Queens native Chris "Kanyon" Klucsarits said the effort is "a big turnaround" from McMahon's past attempts to distance WWE from talk of drug problems.

McMahon said during an interview on the "Today" show shortly after Benoit's death that he should have to answer only for the deaths of five wrestlers who were under WWE contracts.

"He got into a very defensive position, and now it's like after he had time to develop a game plan, he's come up with this," Klucsarits said.

Source: http://www.newsday.com