14 DAY TRIAL // Boxing champion Oscar de la Hoya has checked into rehab to deal with substance abuse issues before things got too complicated and his family would have to stage an intervention for him. Confirmation comes from the champ himself.
De la Hoya, who is no stranger to seeing his name in the tabloid media, particularly because of one incident from back in September 2007, is taking the proactive measure of going to rehab before it’s too late.
Sources close to the star are telling the US weeklies that cocaine abuse may be the issue here, with Oscar telling friends that he’s not yet hit rock bottom – but is on the way there, especially since his marriage too fell apart.
As such, he’s voluntarily checking himself in, he says in a statement to TMZ.
“After doing an honest evaluation of myself, I recognize that there are certain issues that I need to work on. Like everyone, I have my flaws, and I do not want to be one of those people that is afraid to admit and address those flaws,” the champ says.
Running from problems doesn’t mean they will go away and, certainly, this is not de la Hoya’s way of dealing with the things that come his way.
“Throughout my career and my life, I have always met all challenges head-on, and this is no different. I am confident that with the support of my family and friends, I will become a stronger, healthier person,” he stresses in the same statement.
“I ask for respect and privacy as my family and I go through this process,” de la Hoya concludes by saying.
He does not offer more details on the reasons he’s choosing to go to rehab, but, as noted above, word has it it has to do with coke.
De la Hoya’s whereabouts are unknown at the time, but TMZ says the rehab is situated in California.