Bay Area chess grandmaster had methamphetamine, active ingredients of kratom in his system at time of death

"A postmortem toxicology report conducted Oct. 23 found methamphetamine, amphetamine, mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in his system, according to documents obtained from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are the two active components of kratom, which is sourced from a tree in Southeast Asia and is a stimulant in low doses and a sedative in high doses, according to a fact sheet from the Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration."

"In January, an investigative report listed Naroditsky's pending probable cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis. Methamphetamine and kratom use are listed as contributing conditions. The medical examiner also listed the manner of Naroditsky's death as an accident. On a separate page, dated in October, the fatal injury or illness is listed as Kratom and/or illicit substance toxicity vs. Pneumonia."

"Naroditsky also had clusters of contusions on both thighs that were in various stages of healing, according to the report. A few days after Naroditsky's death, the International Chess Federation announced an disciplinary and ethics investigation into Vladimir Kramnik, 50, a chess grandmaster who accused several chess champions, including Naroditsky, of cheating. Kramnik alleged that these grandmasters used artificial intelligence on a separate computer screen to suggest chess moves, pointing to shifting eyes as evidence. Naroditsky denied the allegations and had the support"

Daniel Naroditsky, 29, a Foster City native and influential chess figure, died Oct. 19 at his North Carolina home. A postmortem toxicology report dated Oct. 23 detected methamphetamine, amphetamine, mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in his system. Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are active components of kratom, a Southeast Asian plant product that acts as a stimulant in low doses and a sedative in high doses; kratom is not federally regulated and is not FDA-approved. A January investigative report listed probable cause as cardiac arrhythmia with cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis and cited methamphetamine and kratom use as contributing conditions. The medical examiner ruled the death accidental and noted clusters of healing contusions on both thighs. The International Chess Federation opened a disciplinary and ethics investigation into Vladimir Kramnik after public cheating accusations; Naroditsky denied those allegations.

Read at www.mercurynews.com