Andre Agassi in shock drugs admission
Agassi in shock drugs admission
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 28, Oct 2009 01:29
By Michael Younger.
Former grand slam winner Andre Agassi has admitted in a new book that he lied to the ATP about his use of illegal substances to avoid a ban.
In his autobiography, Open, released next month, Agassi revealed that he used the highly addictive drug crystal methamphetamine in 1997.
The eight-time champion lied about a positive drug test, claiming he had mistakenly drunk from a spiked drink belonging to a friend.
Agassi writes in his autobiography, which is being serialised in the Times, about taking the drug with his ex-assistant 'Slim': "There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some.
"Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy."
He said of the revelations: "I was horrified for a moment. I wore my heart on my sleeve. But I was excited about telling the world the whole story."
During the time of the drug use, Agassi was enduring the worst year of his professional career, as he struggled with a wrist injury, and his world ranking slumped to a low of 141 in November of that year.
The ATP are now considering their response to the revelations. At the time, they threw out the case, but could have handed the American a three-month suspension for using recreational drugs.