He was enduring the worst year of his professional career in 1997 as he struggled with a wrist injury, and his world ranking slumped to a low of 141 that November.Īgassi, who is married to former women's world number one Steffi Graf, explained how he had received a call from an ATP at that time to inform him he had failed a drugs test. It looks like small ice crystals and is a very powerful and addictive form of the stimulant speed, which can be eaten, inhaled through the nose or injected.Īgassi, who is widely considered to be among the greatest tennis players of all time, recounts in the book, which is called 'Open', about his introduction to the drug. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy.'Ĭrystal meth is classified in the UK as a class A drug - the category for those considered to be the most harmful and which attract the most serious punishments and fines. 'Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. 'Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table,' writes Agassi in his book, which the Times is serialising.

Writing about the first time he used crystal meth, Agassi said: 'Vast sadness and regret' followed his taking of the drug. Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said it was 'surprised and disappointed' by Agassi's remarks. In response, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) called on the association to 'shed light' on the case. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said it could not comment on Agassi's drug-taking revelation because it had withdrawn its doping case against him.Īgassi had lied to them that the use of the drug was accidental - and the failed test was kept secret by the ATP. 'I play tennis for a living, even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have,' he wrote.

Meanwhile, he also confessed in the book itself to a surprise lifelong hatred of the sport. 'I felt my story was one from which many people could learn,' he added in a video promoting the book. The 39-year-old, who retired in 2006, also stated it was 'not easy being so candid' and 'brutally honest'.Īgassi admitted he used the drug with ex-assistant 'Slim' in 1997. American Andre Agassi has admitted in his new autobiography he lied to tennis authorities about his use of crystal methamphetamine to escape a ban.Įight-time Grand Slam winner Agassi said he wanted to share 'my bad decisions which, in a few instances, nearly ended in catastrophe'.

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