Andre Agassi Admits Crystal Meth Use

Access Hollywood - October 28, 2009 8:10 PM PDT
Story photo: Andre Agassi Admits Crystal Meth UseAndre Agassi arrives at the 14th annual Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's Grand Slam for Children benefit concert at the Wynn Las Vegas September 26, 2009 in Las VegasGetty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Tennis champ Andre Agassi has revealed a history of crystal meth use in a new memoir.

In his new book, "Open," the star admitted he had used the drug during the late '90s. According to an excerpt published in The Times of London, Agassi explained that he'd lied about his habits to escape a flunked drug test in 1997.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Love Connection: Celebs & Athletes

"I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of [assistant] Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs," Agassi reportedly wrote. "I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it."

In a new interview with People, the athlete explained why he was coming forward with the truth over a decade later.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brooke Shields

"I can't speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you're using anything as an escape, you have a problem," he told the mag, adding that he wasn't worried about fans' reactions to the revelation.

"I was worried for a moment, but not for long," he said. "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."

And the drug use wasn't the only surprising revelation made in the new book -- according to ESPN, the memoir also revealed that his famous early career Mohawk was a hairpiece. He hit the courts with a shaved head for the latter half of his career.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebs In Rehab

1997 was a career low for Agassi, finding him dropping out of tennis' top 100 ranked players and beginning a tumultuous, short-lived marriage to actress Brooke Shields that ended with divorce two years later.

After quitting meth, he made one of the sport's biggest comebacks when he jumped from a ranking of No. 122 to No. 6 in 1998, becoming one of a handful of players to win each of the four Grand Slam titles during a career with a victory at the French Open in 1999. He finished the year as the world's No. 1 tennis player.

The eight-time Grand Slam winner retired following the 2006 U.S. Open, focusing since on his Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation.


AH NATION: Make your voice heard -- what was Andre's most startling revelation? CLICK HERE to vote!

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Melanie Oudin: 'I Think It's Pretty Cool Being Considered A Celebrity' (September 9, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: 2008 Beijing Olympics: On The Court With Tennis Star James Blake

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Athletes - Drugs - Authors - Celebrities

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 51  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • thetruth
    His current wife looks very manly! he should have kept his mouth shut about his past. I guess he must need money writing this tell all book. Without mentioning his drug use or toupee wearing I think it would have been a very boring book.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 10:57 PM PDT
  • Vanessa
    He should just drink chrome soda!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 10:53 PM PDT
  • kathy c
    duh, make your money then tell everyone when you were at your best you were on drugs..who would do that?? stephen king? edgar allen poe? john lennon? what a shocker, yeah drugs make you more creative...sometimes..but you have to have some talent to go with it...
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 10:31 PM PDT
  • dan w
    can we say pickle puffer,dog slurper,rump ranger,butt pirate,turd burglar,cob knobber,fudge packer.!!!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 10:30 PM PDT
  • dan w
    can we say pickle puffer,dog slurper,rump ranger,butt pirate,turd burglar,cob knobber,fudge packer.!!!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 10:30 PM PDT
  • tracy
    I think its great he came clean..... but I also heard he likes mens crotch area.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 6:09 PM PDT
  • Murphy
    Very old news the main thing is that he is not using it now.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:40 PM PDT
  • mgmkid
    Who cares. He's a great spokesman for MGM Mirage Las Vegas.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 2:59 PM PDT
  • susie qh
    It means he human. Dont judge @ least he did ome thing good with his life.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 1:26 PM PDT
  • Ubbar
    OMG,$100,Buy Cheap UGG Boots,search "uggbargain" on google,ＵＧＧＢＡＲＧＡＩＮ。ＣＯＭ　offer 100% original sheepskin ugg boots.GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 9:11 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 51  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions