A retired American football star has announced a partnership with a CBD company whose products he claims helped with the sport injuries he sustained.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who announced his retirement from the NFL in March, said he is working with CBDMEDIC, which makes products for “safe, natural, and temporary pain relief”.

He told a press conference: “That is a big deal. You can just call me Mr Recovery. Yeah, you know you like that name.”

The three-time Super Bowl champion said the cannabinoid is the “most safe alternative way that a player can deal with pain”.

Athletes, their teams, and sporting bodies are looking at CBD as a safe alternative to opioid pain relief.

Opioid addiction is a serious problem in the US

America is currently in the grip of an opioid epidemic, and many victims claim their addiction began with a prescription for an injury.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently provided a report detailing the harrowing statistic that more than 130 people in the United States die every day after overdosing on opioids.

As of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed cannabidiol (CBD) from its prohibited substances list after increasing awareness of the beneficial aspects.

The benefits include pain relief and a reduction in inflammation – both of which are necessities for athletes. CBD also provides the possibility of neuroprotective benefits for athletes prone to head and brain injuries.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding CBD in the US. Most cannabidiol products were made legal by December’s ‘Farm Bill’, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that all CBD added to food in the US is still illegal.