Friends of fallen AFL star Ben Cousins fear that fatherhood may not save him from drug abuse By Andrew Rule
Herald Sun
September 24, 2011 8:05PMAs fallen AFL star Ben Cousins reportedly celebrates the birth of his first child, his friends fear that fatherhood will not save him from increasingly dangerous drug abuse.
Cousins' partner Maylea Tinecheff gave birth to a boy on Friday, sources told the Herald Sun.
But as they celebrate, Cousins is apparently being treated for sores that won't heal.
"Ben's been back in hospital (because) the sores won't close," a star footballer's partner told friends last week.
Cousins' medical diagnosis is not known, but persistent sores are a symptom of methamphetamine abuse, which can cause delusions of parasites burrowing under the skin.
His parents are publicly silent about their son's battle with drugs, but a Perth football source said Ben's father, Bryan Cousins, had told friends he was worried Ben would succumb to the lifestyle that killed his friend Chris Mainwaring in 2007.
Mr Cousins on Friday said reports about his son were "sometimes right and sometimes wrong", but speculation that Ben was being treated for drug-related sores was "off beam".
At one of Cousins' rare recent public appearances, colourful Perth nightclub owner Karim Rabih called on him to appear in a film he is backing called Funny Money, about a drug deal gone wrong.
Cousins joked that it was the only job offer he'd had since he quit football.
The owner of a Gold Coast apartment Cousins borrowed last year has hit out at him for allegedly littering it with needles and drug gear.
"Ben's one of the only true drug addicts I have ever met," the owner told the Herald Sun.
"I want nothing more to do with him."
Cousins was not available to respond to the allegation on Friday.
Meanwhile, a Melbourne racing identity who befriended Cousins at the height of his fame risks bankruptcy amid claims he owes about $5 million.
South Yarra bloodstock agent Robert Clemenger met Cousins through former Eagles star Mainwaring, who died of a suspected drug overdose in 2007.
Clemenger had become close to Mainwaring after selling him a share in a top Perth galloper.
Clemenger and Cousins were pallbearers at Mainwaring's funeral and Clemenger helped Cousins market his documentary, but the friendship has ended. Clemenger's friends say he has enough problems of his own.
South Yarra personal trainer Troy Hill resigned last year as Clemenger's co-director in National Breeding Services, since forced into receivership.
Police last month raided Hill's lawyers, looking for property records.
The international Coolmore stud and two others claim Clemenger owes millions in broken contracts.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/friends-of-fallen-afl-star-ben-cousins-fear-that-fatherhood-may-not-save-him-from-drug-abuse/story-e6frf33l-1226145336387?from=public_rss
