Parents Attribe Bodybuilder Son's Death to Steroid Use and Mental Health Issues
Neil Currey, a former Mr Olympia bodybuilder, died in September 2023 from a mix of methamphetamine and cocaine, an inquest heard.
His parents, Nigel and Sandra Currey, attributed his death to his prolonged use of steroids, which they believed negatively affected his mental health.
Neil had a history of sports participation, studying sports at the University of Bath, and working as a personal trainer before turning to professional bodybuilding.
A bodybuilder from Chesterfield reached his goal of competing in the Mr Olympia contest in 2022 but struggled with his weight and height ratio, leading to heavy steroid use.
By early 2023, his intake had increased significantly, causing him to become isolated and depressed, and he eventually cut off contact with his family.
His parents believe that his steroids abuse negatively impacted his mental health and contributed to his death.
They acknowledged that steroid use is common in bodybuilding but consider it "cheating" in other sports.
The NHS warns of various side effects from taking steroids, including mood changes and potential mental health issues like depression.
At a recent hearing, a judge ruled Neil's death was drug-related.
UKAD (United Kingdom Anti-Doping) has outlined risks of steroid use, which include physical symptoms such as gynaecomastia (development of breast tissue in men) and genitourinary issues (shrinking of testicles), as well as psychological effects like erectile dysfunction.