Kell Brook has issued an apology in response to a video which appeared to show him using a white powdery substance.
The Sun published a video on 28 January which appeared to show the boxer snorting a line of white powder at his home and saying 'nice'.
The boxer's manager Terry Thompson initially said the video was a 'joke' that had 'got out of hand' and denied that the white powder visible in the video was cocaine.
Now, Brook has apologised and promised fans that he's getting help.
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Brook's apology on social media was met with a wave of support for the boxer from friends and fans, along with offers from charities for a chat if he wanted to talk about it further.
The boxer's last fight was last year where he defeated Amir Khan with a sixth round stoppage that left Brook's opponent looking thoroughly bruised and battered.
In response to the video of him appearing to snort a while powder, Brook took to Twitter and spoke about his struggles with mental health, making special mention of his family and friends in his message.
He wrote: "I messed up, I hold my hands up & want to apologise to my family gym friends & fans.
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"It's no secret that I struggle with mental health & I’m finding retirement really hard. I’m actively seeking the help I need to get me on the right path. Again i apologise for the hurt I’ve caused."
Many responded to Brook's tweet to offer their support and praised his approach, with one saying he was 'doing the right thing in seeking out help', and a second declaring their 'respect for coming out and apologising'.
Someone else said the boxer had 'hurt nobody' with his actions and didn't need to apologise, while another accused the people who were condemning Brook of 'doing worse every weekend'.
Others wished Brook 'the very best of luck' in getting help overcoming his personal demons and criticised the person who had filmed the video.
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The former IBF welterweight title holder has retired from boxing following his victory over Khan, with the bout against his rival ending up being his final fight.
He ended his boxing career with 40 wins and three defeats, having moved from welterweight to middleweight and light-middleweight during his career before switching back to welterweight afterwards.
He announced his retirement from boxing in May 2022, three months after defeating Khan in the 43rd and final fight of his career.
Topics: Boxing, UK News, Drugs, Mental Health
Joe Harker