O.J. Simpson has reportedly asked President Obama to set him free so he can treat his life-threatening brain cancer outside prison.

In a story not published online but cited by various outlets including the Telegraph, the National Enquirer reports that Simpson is taking desperate measures to secure clemency after undergoing tests on a brain tumor.

The magazine quotes "a source close to" Simpson who said, "He put off the doctors for weeks after he first started experiencing the symptoms because he was afraid of what they would find."

The 66-year-old has been in a Nevada prison since 2008, serving a 33-year sentence for assault, robbery and kidnapping.

The Washington Times reports that Simpson's health has been deteriorating for years. "He’s gained weight since his imprisonment, and also suffers from blurred vision, stuttering and failing hearing," according to the paper.

The Enquirer has sounded the alarm about Simpson's medical issues before. Six months ago, the magazine reported that the former football star had a severe case of diabetes.

Simpson was found not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman on October 3, 1995.