Najai "Nitro" Turpin (December 19, 1981 – February 14, 2005) was a professional

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born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

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. He was a contestant on

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show ''The Contender''. On the show, he was placed on the East Coast team and pitted himself against

Sergio Mora Sergio Mora (born December 4, 1980) is an American former professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as de ...

, a man seven inches taller than he was, in the first round. He committed

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

on February 14, 2005, while sitting in a car with his girlfriend and 2-year-old daughter. The motive for his suicide was not entirely clear. However, the fact that he had not been allowed to fight between the time of his elimination from ''The Contender'' and the show's finale (so as not to spoil the ending), along with the low self-esteem that may have resulted from his defeat on the show may have contributed to his suicide. Another contributing factor is considered to be the ongoing custody battle for his daughter. Turpin was one of several American reality show contestants to take their own life, but there have been examples elsewhere in the world. In 1997, Sinisa Savija, the first person ever voted off ''

Expedition Robinson ''Robinson'', formerly ''Expedition Robinson'', is a Sweden, Swedish Reality television#Reality competition.2Fgame shows, reality game show and the original version of the international ''Survivor (franchise), Survivor'' format. The television ...

'' (the

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predecessor to '' Survivor'') killed himself immediately after the episode aired. Najai Turpin's initials were imprinted on Ishe Oluwa Ali Smith's shorts during a match, and the episode in which Najai fought was dedicated to him.

References

External links

*
Snopes.com entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turpin, Najai 1981 births 2005 deaths African-American boxers The Contender (TV series) participants Suicides by firearm in Pennsylvania Welterweight boxers American male boxers Boxers from Philadelphia 2005 suicides