Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner officials said that the death of Memphis Grizzlies’ player Brandon Clarke was caused by the use of heroin and cocaine.
According to a statement released by the officials, the two substances were found to be the primary cause of Clarke’s death and have been labeled as an accidental death.
According to the report, there were some other medications used by Clarke which were also cited as contributing factors to his death.
“The Medical Examiner report will be available at a future date,” the office said in a brief statement.
The 29-year-old was found unconscious in an LA property located in San Fernando Valley on the night of May 11.
According to reports from the medical examiner’s office, paramedics found Clarke inside a bedroom where he died instantly. There were narcotics in the house and there were no signs of foul play, as per ABC News sources.
The sudden demise of Clarke sent ripples through the league and most of all, Memphis as Clarke played all seven seasons of his career there. He was a Gonzaga star player and drafted in the first round and averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 309 games in his career.
“Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the team said in a statement at the time.
As per ESPN, Clarke had said to the officers that it was “just kratom,” which is legal in certain states and even available at the gas stations. However, kratom is not legal in Arkansas, and therefore Clarke was arrested and charged with something illegal.
According to the medical examiner’s office, there is no confirmation of the presence of kratom in Clarke’s system before his death. As per the FDA, the substance is used by individuals for self-medication of various problems such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal.
