Cocktail of drugs and alcohol killed Stathi Katsidis, says coroner’s report

A coroner’s report has revealed champion jockey Stathi Katsidis had a cocktail of drugs and alcohol in his system when he died last October.

Coroner John Lock found Katsidis had nine times the fatal dose of the designer drug fantasy in his system. He also had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.146 per cent.

The premiership-winning jockey had consumed a cocktail of the drugs fantasy, ecstasy, cocaine, methylamphetamines and alcohol in a 15-hour binge before his death.

Katsidis began drinking at a hotel at 1pm on October 18 last year.

He and his fiancee, Melissa Jackson, and two friends continued to party at home and Katsidis consumed more alcohol and drugs.

Jackson found the jockey asleep on a couch at about 2am (AEST) next morning and returned to bed.

Katsidis was found by Jackson face down on the floor at about 7.45am on October 19.

An ambulance was called but the 31-year-old could not be revived.

A pathologist found that his death was caused by “mixed drug and alcohol toxicity”.

Katsidis, 31, had a history of drug-related problems.

He tested positive for ecstasy in 2008 and served a nine-month disqualification.

Katsidis had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when pulled over by police at Toowoomba in February 2008. He was disqualified from driving for six months and was fined $1000.

He also battled weight problems. At the time of his death Katsidis was booked to ride regular mount Shoot Out in the Cox Plate later that week. He had already guided Shoot Out to the Randwick Guineas, AJC Derby, Bletchingly Stakes and Liston Stakes.

The son of Greek immigrants, Katsidis began cleaning stables in Toowoomba at age 13. He won his first race on his first ride at a bush meeting on the Darling Downs at age 15 and in June 2000 he rode Show a Heart in the TJ Smith at Eagle Farm for his first Group I win.

Katsidis is survived by his parents, brother Michael, a former lightweight world champion boxer, Jackson, and his “best mate”, son Brooklyn

by Buford Balony

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