THE RISKS just aren’t worth it.

Those are the words of the parents of a young sportsman who died after taking a performance-enhancing drug.

Fred Dibben from Ringwood, known as Freddie, was found dead in bed by his father after buying anabolic steroids over the internet.

The 28-year-old, a highly-respected member of Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club, went to bed after finishing a nightshift at work and was found dead hours later.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard Mr Dibben, of North Poulner Road, died on March 4 last year after taking Clenbuterol, a stimulant drug normally used to treat problems such as asthma, not knowing about the potentially fatal side-effects on his heart.

Following the inquest, his mother Lorraine and father Clifford said they wanted to warn other young men about the dangers of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Lorraine said: “Freddie was an intelligent lad.

"He thought he was in control, so how do you get other young men to see this is going to cause damage to your heart?

"The risks just aren’t worth it.

“I think these young men think they can stop at any point.”

Speaking about her son, she said: “He was a gentle giant.

“He was very popular and he had his kindness. He loved his motorcycle, he loved his rugby and he loved his Guinness.”

At the inquest, Clifford said his son had been going to the gym daily and having protein shakes for a number of years, but they had “no idea” about anything else he had been ordering online.

Pathologist Dr Victoria Eliot told the inquest Mr Dibben’s heart had become enlarged and there was blood in his lungs.

She gave a cause of death as dilated cardio myopathy.

Mr Dibben’s club previously paid tribute to the popular player by holding a two-minute silence before a game against the Isle of Wight.

Clifford, one of several family members who watched the match, shook each player’s hand as they left the pitch.

Mr Dibben went to Ringwood School and Brockenhurst College before joining the Wilton Carpet Factory near Salisbury as a turner fitter in 2011.

Rob Load, the company’s manufacturing director, said: “Freddie was a very pleasant, easy going young man who always had a smile on his face.

“His colleagues’ reaction to his death was one of complete and utter shock.

"He was very well liked and everyone was extremely upset.”

Coroner Grahame Short said the case “very clearly illustrates the dangers of these drugs”.

He recorded a conclusion of misadventure.