Agassi in shocking crystal meth revelation

ANDRE Agassi has admitted lying about his use of crystal methamphetamine to tennis authorities to escape a ban in his new autobiography.

 CONFESSIONS: Andre Agassi reveals he took crystal meth and lied to ATP to avoid ban

The eight-time grand slam winner revealed he used the drug in 1997 and failed a doping test, before escaping punishment with a falsified letter to the ATP.

Agassi writes in his book, Open, which is being serialised in The Times, that he took the highly addictive stimulant when he had an assistant known as ‘Slim'.

"You know what? F**k it. Yeah Let's get high. Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table," writes Agassi, who retired in 2006.

"He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some.

"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."

The 39-year-old then goes on to reveal he failed a drugs test that year but escaped a ban by claiming his use was accidental.

Agassi admits he wrote a letter to the ATP, blaming his former assistant Slim.

"My name, my career, everything is now on the line. Whatever I've achieved, whatever I've worked for, might soon mean nothing," Agassi writes.

"Days later I sit in a hard-backed chair, a legal pad in my lap, and write a letter to the ATP. It's filled with lies interwoven 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 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.

"I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it."

Agassi goes on to reveal that crystal meth would be classed by the ATP as a recreational drug and carry a three-month ban but the ATP opted not to award a suspension, reviewing the case before throwing it out.

Possession of crystal meth in the USA carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.