Oscar De La Hoya In Rehab for Drugs, Infidelity, Report Says
Oscar De La Hoya has entered the ring against a new opponent.
Retired world and 1992 Olympic champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya has announced he entered drug rehab last month, to address substance abuse and infidelity issues, reports NBC Sports.
De La Hoya, 38, reportedly had battled alcohol, cocaine and marital infidelity issues before entering an undisclosed California rehab facility. De La Hoya married Millie Corretjer in 2001, and the couple has two children, reports Fox Chicago News.
"After doing an honest evaluation of myself, I recognize that there are certain issues that I need to work on... I ask for respect and privacy as my family and I go through this process," De La Hoya said in a statement, reports Fox.
Neither De La Hoya's spouse nor anyone else from Golden Boy Promotions has commented.
Reactions from around the boxing world express respect and encouragement.
"I'm sure, there was a lot of doubt and questions ... I'm sure he is such a competitor," said Alex Ariza, Manny Pacquaio's conditioning coach, reports Yahoo Sports. De La Hoya retired from boxing in April 2009, after a December 2008 loss to Pacquaio.
And De La Hoya's former promoter Bob Arum said he "wishes Oscar the best, and hopes the rehabilitation succeeds," reports the Los Angeles times.
Everyone seems to wish Oscar De La Hoya well. But De La Hoya is self-employed and financially set--distinguishing him from most rehabilitation patients.
If he had a regular 9-to-5 gig and needed this rehab time, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) might have his back. The ADA may well require alcoholics and addicts to a reasonable accomodation from their employer. That means an employer might be required to allow an addicted employee entering rehab to take accrued and/or unpaid leave for the rehab period.
Perhaps Oscar De La Hoya's rehab will show he has the resources, financial and physical, to go the distance. For the rest of us in the working world, the ADA provides some resources and protection.
Related Resources:
- Oscar De La Hoya enters rehab, but still tweets a photo of Tres Generaciones tequila (New York Daily News)
- Boxing champ Oscar de la Hoya in Rehab (CBS News)
- If I'm in Rehab, Must an Employer Hold My Job? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- What Are an Employer's Obligations toward Alcoholic Employees (FindLaw)