The president of ESPN is stepping down from his position to deal with substance abuse issues.

John Skipper announced the news in a statement on Monday that took many by surprise, and led others to speculate that a damning story about the Disney Media Networks co-chairman might not be far behind.

'I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem,' said the 61-year-old executive.

'I have disclosed that decision to the company, and we mutually agreed that it was appropriate that I resign. I will always appreciate the human understanding and warmth that Bob displayed here and always.'

He then added: 'I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down.'

This comes after a recent report revealed women at the network are in fear of losing their job or being demoted should they get pregnant.

Skipper and his wife Jessica have been married since 1984 and own a $2.31 million Manhattan condo in the same building as George Stephanopoulos.

They have two adult sons, Nicholas, a lawyer, and Clay, a writer at GQ.

Stepping down: John Skipper (above in 2016) has resigned from ESPN after 20 years with the network

Family: Skipper and his wife Jessica have been married since 1984 and have two adult sons, Nicholas and Clay (family above with Nicholas' wife)

George Bodenheimer, who was ESPN's president from 1998 to 2011 and executive chairman until May 2014, will be the acting chairman of the company for the next 90 days.

Skipper's departure comes less than a week after Disney struck a deal to buy film, television and international businesses from Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox Inc for $52.4 billion.

He took over his current roles in 2012, has led ESPN to a series of long-term, multiplatform agreements with major rights holders, including the National Basketball Association and the Major League Baseball.

In that time the number of subcribers plummeted but the network still managed to turn a profit year after year.

'I join John Skipper's many friends and colleagues across the company in wishing him well during this challenging time,' said Walt Disney Co. head honcho Bob Iger in a statement after the news was announced on Monday.

'I respect his candor and support his decision to focus on his health and his family. With his departure, George Bodenheimer has agreed to serve as Acting Chair of ESPN for the next 90 days to provide interim leadership, help me identify and secure John's successor, and ensure a smooth transition.'

He closed out by stating: 'I am grateful for George's support and look forward to working with him again in this temporary role.'

In the beginning: He became president of the company in 2012 and was also a Disney Media Networks co-chairman (Skipper second right in 2001 with, l to r: Kenny Mayne, Yusuf Medhi and Trey Wingo)

Iger and Disney had just signed Skipper to a three year contract extension back in November that would have kept him at the network until 2021, the same year his boss if expected to step down.

This contract was signed despite the several rounds of layoffs which hit the company and its employees this year.

There was also a Boston Globe expose released last week which detailed the 'hostile work environment' women face at ESPN.

Women at the Connecticut-based operation said they were afraid to get prgnant and when they did would try their best to take a brief maternity leave.

One woman even went on the air to anchor while she was having a miscarriage just to show how dedicated she was to the job according to other employees.

Several of the woman interviewed 'said they were given less desirable positions or laid off before, during, or after maternity leave.'

Skipper responded to some of the allegations made in that story by stating: 'I can tell you categorically, we do not have a frat-boy culture.'