In the wake of the case of German international goalkeeper Robert Enke, we list professional sportspeople who committed suicide.

BASEBALL:

Martin 'Marty' Bergen ? Outstanding baseball player for the Boston Beaneaters at the end of the 19th century, but his life nosedived after the death of his son in 1899 when he started having hallucinations. Ended in tragic fashion as he axed his wife and two remaining children to death and then slit his own throat with a razor aged just 28 in 1900.

Donnie 'Ray' Moore ? Pitcher for several baseball franchises shot himself aged 35 in 1989 after attempting to murder his wife and one of his children. Former All Star Selection but suffered from depression after he was axed by Kansas City Royals.

BOXING:

Alexis Arguello ? Shot himself through the heart on July 1 this year aged 57 suffering from depression. One of the great boxers of the later 70's and early 80's when he was WBA Featherweight champion 1974-76, WBC lightwelterweight champion 1978-80 and WBC lightweight champion 1981-83. Was elected mayor of Managua and carried flag for Nicaragua at Beijing Olympics.

Arturo Gatti ? Hanged himself aged 37 in mysterious circumstances on holiday this year with his family in Brazil. His wife was arrested and incarcerated for 18 days but subsequently released after the police conceded that it was suicide after all. Italian-born naturalised Canadian Gatti won the International Boxing Federation super featherweight title in 1995 and captured the World Boxing Council junior welterweight crown in 2004.

Darren Sutherland ? Hanged himself aged 27 in September this year. Became an Irish sporting hero when he took bronze in the Beijing Olympics in the middleweight division and was a two-time European amateur champion. Was thought of as a highly promising prospect as a professional. His promoter Frank Maloney discovered his body at Sutherland's residence in London.

CRICKET:

David Bairstow ? Yorkshire and England wicketkeeper hanged himself aged 46 in 1998. While the coroner believed it was a cry for help, the four-times capped Bairstow ? who also played football for Bradford City ? had already taken an overdose of pills a few months previously. Had been suffering from depression.

A.E Stoddart ? All-round sportsman who represented England at cricket and went on the first officially recognised British Lions rugby tour, to Australia and New Zealand in 1888, in which he ended up as captain after the initial skipper R.L Seddon died in a rowing accident. However, found life after retiring from sports a struggle and, in ill health and cash-strapped, shot himself aged 52 in 1915.

Arthur Shrewsbury ? Like Stoddart, captain of England and the batsman most desired by WG Grace to be in his team ? 'Give me Arthur' said the great man ? shot himself at his sister's home in 1903 aged 47. Last professional to captain England until Len Hutton in 1952. Initially bought the wrong bullets for the gun, but when he acquired the right ones shot himself first in the chest and then in the head. Believed he had an incurable disease which did not turn out to be the case.

CYCLING:

Rene Pottier ? Won the 1906 Tour de France and second in the 1905 Paris to Roubaix one day classic. However, was distraught when he discovered that his wife was having an affair and aged just 27 he hanged himself on a bike hook in 1907.

FOOTBALL:

Dave Clement ? Queens Park Rangers legend who played over 450 times for them and won five England caps poisoned himself with weedkiller aged 34 believing his career was over because of injury. His son was undeterred by his father's end and became a professional footballer himself.

Justin Fashanu ? First openly homosexual professional footballer which did not impress Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough, who had made him the first million pound black player when he signed him in 1981. However, Clough rarely played him and even barred him fron training with the squad. His career nosedived amid subsequent to accusations of sexual asault which he hotly denied. But the same year, 1998, he hanged himself aged 37.

FORMULA ONE:

Willy Mairesse ? Belgian Formula One driver who committed suicide aged 40 suffering from depression after he learnt his career was over owing to injuries. Drove for Ferrari with his best result third in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix.

HORSE RACING:

Eddie Gregson ? American horse trainer trained 1982 Kentucky Derby winner Gato del Sol ? shot himself. Personal problems unrelated to the sport. 61 years old in 2000. Had earlier tried to make it as an actor appearing in the 'Naked and the Dead' in 1958 ? from the classic novel by Norma Mailer ? where the scene in which he was bitten by a snake was described by the New York Times as the most exciting thing in the movie.

Fred Archer ? Five time Epsom Derby winner and champion jockey on 13 consecutive occasions shot himself aged 29 because of depression in 1886 following the death of his wife. Archer, who won 23 classics in all and rode the legendary racehorse Ormonde, had already been suffering health problems from keeping his weight down. Legend has it that he has been seen riding a ghostly white horse at the Pegasus Stables where he shot himself.