Agassi defends drugs confession

Former Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi has defended his decision to publish the fact that he took crystal meth during his tennis career and then lied to the authorities to avoid a ban.

Speaking from his home city of Las Vegas, where he is promoting his autobiography, 'Open', which is published today, he said: “I can’t tell my story without telling my story. It wasn’t an option for me to do a book that was a fraud of who I am or what I’ve been through.

“My story, however it may appear on the outside, is truly a powerful story that is relevant in people’s lives, not just to people who struggle with drugs but teenagers who have to avoid some of the same pitfalls I did or people that are struggling with their own demons who can take some inspiration or tools away from this.”

He took crystal meth over a period of months in 1997, at the age of 27, when his wedding to the actress Brooke Shields was looming and his career was not going well.

When he tested positive for the drug, he wrote a letter to the governing body of the men’s game, the ATP, saying that he accidentally drank his assistant’s spiked soda. The ATP dropped the case, allowing the American to regain a form that would see him go on to win the French Open in 1998 and the US Open in 1999 before retiring in 2006.

He has been criticised over his confession by players and tennis authorities alike, but said: “I’m not surprised by the anger that people may feel or the disappointment. The thing to keep clearly in mind is that I spent many years being angry and disappointed at myself.

“I’ve had years to come to terms with it, although you’ll never quite able to change it. I horribly regret it.”

Agassi, 39, who is married to former Wimbledon champion Steffi Graf, with whom he has two children, insists his drug confessions do not give out a wrong message to youngsters.

“When we deal with drugs and the message of drugs to kids, we have to start with the truth. Drugs are tempting for very specific reasons,” he said.

“It would be wrong to suggest to a child that a drug doesn’t make you feel good at first and it would be wrong not to communicate the devastation and destruction that it does. A child needs to be armed to understand the temptations of it.”

He said he doubted it would be so easy to fool the authorities today.

“It’s a very sophisticated approach now. It’s thorough, it’s random, and any initial positive test is run through a process.”