Hatton 'distraught' after newspaper allegations

Published Sep. 12, 2010 12:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

A spokesman for Ricky Hatton says the former world light-welterweight champion ''feels he's let everybody that matters down badly'' after being secretly filmed by a newspaper allegedly snorting cocaine.

A photograph on the front page of the News of the World shows Hatton snorting what the Sunday tabloid claims was cocaine at a Manchester hotel two weeks ago.

Publicist Max Clifford, speaking on behalf of Hatton, says the fighter has ''been in a bad place for some time'' and is ''distraught about it, very upset and very subdued.''

The 31-year-old Hatton is the latest high-profile sportsman to feature in the newspaper. Pakistan cricketers have been accused of spot fixing and footballer Wayne Rooney is alleged to have slept with two prostitutes while his wife was pregnant.