AGASSI: I SNORTED DRUGS.. AND LIED ABOUT IT; Ace's meth confession.Byline: Donna Watson FORMER Wimbledon champ Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. has revealed he snorted the drug crystal meth meth n. Methamphetamine hydrochloride. - and lied to dodge punishment. The eight-time Grand Slam grand slam n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. winner, who turned to the powerful class-A stimulant as his career slumped through injury, failed a drug test in 1997.. But he managed to avoid a charge by lying to tennis authorities that he had accidentally taken the drug from a contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. glass. Agassi, who retired in 2006, lifts the lid on his drug abuse in his autobiography, Open. He writes of a "tidal wave of euphoria" - and manic cleaning binges around his flat - caused by the drug, a powerful and addictive amphetamine amphetamine (ămfĕt`əmēn), any one of a group of drugs that are powerful central nervous system stimulants. Amphetamines have stimulating effects opposite to the effects of depressants such as alcohol, narcotics, and barbiturates. . Blamed Agassi, 39, says his former assistant, who he names as Slim, introduced him to the drug. And he later falsely blamed Slim for the traces of crystal meth that showed up in his drug test in the autumn of 1997. The Las Vegas-born star, who is now married to fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf and has two children, describes in his book how he wrote to the Association of Tennis Professionals about the test. He said: "My name, my career - everything is now on the line. "I write a letter to the ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. . It's filled with lies interwoven in·ter·weave v. in·ter·wove , in·ter·wo·ven , inter·weav·ing, inter·weaves v.tr. 1. To weave together. 2. To blend together; intermix. v.intr. with bits of truth. 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. "I say I drank accidentally from one of Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency le·ni·en·cy n. pl. le·ni·en·cies 1. The condition or quality of being lenient. See Synonyms at mercy. 2. A lenient act. Noun 1. and hastily sign it: Sincerely. "I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it." Agassi, ranked as one of the game's greatest players, also writes in his book of the first time he used crystal meth. He recalls: "Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. "He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. "There is a moment of regret, then 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." Crystal meth, which looks like small ice crystals, is among the most addictive drugs available and can be eaten, inhaled or injected. Agassi's revelations about using it will come as a major shock to tennis fans. The Association of Tennis Professionals were last night said to be considering their response. CAPTION(S): FAMILY MAN: With Steffi |
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