US | Justin Butler 'Choking Game' Blamed in Teen's Bowflex Death Parents think 16-year-old was playing game to get high By Matthew Posted Sep 22, 2010 4:18 PM CDT Posted Sep 22, 2010 4:18 PM CDT Promoted on Newser Sep 22, 2010 5:11 PM CDT Copied File photo. A teen football player's death has been blamed on the 'choking game.' (AP) A Sacramento-area high school football player who died while using a Bowflex machine was apparently playing a variation of what's known as the "choking game." The parents of 16-year-old Justin Butler told FOX40 News he likely died while attempting to play the game, which deprives an individual of oxygen for a short period of time so they can achieve a drug-like high. Authorities have ruled out suicide as the cause of death. The coroner has not confirmed what killed Butler. Read These Next Trump, Johnson aren't happy with pick for Super Bowl headliner. It's being called a disturbing trend: paragliders with bombs. SCOTUS sounds skeptical about law banning gay conversion therapy. Felix Baumgartner's death attributed to his own error. Report an error