A former Sao Paulo defender who was part of the squad that beat Liverpool in the FIFA Club World Championship final in 2005 has revealed he sold his winners' medal to fund his cocaine addiction.
Flavio Donizete was an unused substitute when the Brazilian side earned a controversial 1-0 victory over the Reds in Japan, having made the bench due to an injury to a team-mate shortly before the team played their semi-final in the competition.
Having come through the ranks at Sao Paulo, Donizete was released four years later following loan spells at local sides Portuguesa, America and Nacional.
And from 2010 he developed a crippling cocaine habit that prompted him to cash in on his most prized career possession.
"I sold it to buy drugs," said Donizete, speaking to Globo Esporte. "I sold it for 7,000 reais (around £2,875/$3,500). When I sold it the money came and I blew almost all of it on cocaine. The first delivery was 1,000 reais of cocaine. I used it in two days. The more money I had, the more drugs I wanted.
"After I was acquainted with cocaine, I lost everything else. Because at the start I was a moderate user. Until cocaine became more important in my life, I started to lose everything I had. Any money saved I used to buy drugs. I wouldn't let myself be without drugs. Morning, afternoon and evening I had to take cocaine.
"Any money in my account, my possessions, I started losing them. I lost everything, except my wife, daughters and family, who are still with me even today.'"
Donizete was later reunited with his winners' medal after taking part in a television show in Brazil.
