American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky had multiple drugs in his system and died of an accidental overdose last year, according to multiple reports.
A newly-released toxicology report from the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday, Jan. 20 revealed Naroditsky had methamphetamine, amphetamine, 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine in his system at the time of death, according to multiple outlets. The 29-year-old was found dead in his Charlotte, North Carolina home in October 2025 and police began investigating for possible suicide or drug overdose.
The North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office has not yet responded to a USA TODAY Sports request for documents related to Naroditsky's death, as of 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky had served as Chessmaster-in-Residence since 2020, announced his death on Oct. 20, 2025. The organization called the situation, "unexpected."
Methamphetamine and amphetamine are addictive synthetic stimulants, while 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine are psychoactive ingredients found in kratom. It's a drug that is similar to an opioid and "can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence," according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
