Former Tennis Great Andre Agassi Admits To Drug Use In Late 90's

NFL News - October 28th, 2009 - Written by Scott

One of the most storied professional tennis players of all time has admitted he went through, as most people do, a tough time in his life. In order to cope with his troubles, he resorted to an "out" to carry him through these times. Andre Agassi has now reported in his autobiography that he used crystal meth back in 1997. Agassi was struggling in his tennis career and was juggling the decision to marry Brooke Shields. He was introduced to the drug by his assistant, Slim, and the Times of London released how he began his use of crystal meth and how he avoided being disciplined by the ATP.

"Slim is stressed too ... He says, You want to get high with me? On what? Gack. What the hell's gack? Crystal meth," Agassi recounts in the book. "Why do they call it gack? Because that's the sound you make when you're high ... Make you feel like Superman, dude.

"As if they're coming out of someone else's mouth, I hear these words: You know what? F*** it. Yeah. Let's get high.

"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed.

"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. 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," Agassi says.

The Times also reported that Agassi received notice from the ATP that he had failed a drug test and he reported back describing it as a mistake and he had no idea he had consumed the drug. Agassi noted this in his autobiography in regards to a letter he submitted to the ATP.

"I say Slim, whom I've since fired, is a known drug user, and that he often spikes his sodas with meth -- which is true. Then I come to the central lie of the letter. I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: Sincerely."

Agassi, who is now married to Steffi Graph, won the Olympic gold medal in the 1996 games and followed up without winning a major in 1997. He rebounded in 1998 and won the French Open and his second U.S. Open title to finish as the No. 1 player in 1999. Whether or not his decision to use crystal meth will tarnish his career remains to be seen. Agassi obviously feels a sense of relief in revealing his bad decision according to a statement on People magazine's website.

"I wore my heart on my sleeve and my emotions were always written on my face. I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story," Agassi says.

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